Sahlan holds off late challenge of Rosallion for Group 1 upset

They say fortune favours the brave and Francis Graffard was rewarded for taking a gamble when Sahlan held off Rosallion in the Prix du Moulin.

The three-year-old had to be supplemented for the Group 1, with connections hopeful he could finish in the first five taking on some of Europe's leading milers, but he did much more than make up the numbers and just did enough to hold off the fast-finishing Rosallion following a photo-finish.

Victory may have come as a surprise to Graffard but it was entirely in keeping with the rest of the trainer's year. The son of Wootton Bassett provided him with his ninth Group 1 of the season, within half an hour of 2024 King George winner Goliath landing the Grosser Preis von Baden in Germany.

"Today was a big challenge," said Graffard. "I told the owners [Al Shaqab Racing] I didn't have many options for him but he was in good form and we know he quickens well. It was still a big gamble and we supplemented him in the hope he would make the first five.

"He has a great turn of foot but if I said he was going to win the Moulin beforehand, people would have thought I'd gone mad. We had nothing to lose and it paid off nicely. It's wonderful to have the trust of the owners. When you have that backing it makes things go that much better."

Sahlan could manage only ninth behind Henri Matisse in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, the French 2,000 Guineas, on his last attempt at the highest level but emphatically reversed that form, building on a confidence-boosting success in a Deauville Group 3 last time following a busy campaign.

"He had excuses in the Poulains," said Graffard. "I couldn't blame him. Then he was sick when he was well beaten in a Listed race before winning a Group 3. He showed a great turn of foot last time but it was still a big decision to supplement.

"He's a horse I've always loved but there have been some difficult moments with him. I've asked myself a lot of questions but when the owners were offered big money for him, I said I thought he'd win a Group 1, perhaps next year if not this one, so I asked them not to sell him straight away."

Graffard is considering a trip to Del Mar with the winner, who is available at 6-1 for the Breeders' Cup Mile. "I don't think I'll run him again here on soft ground," he added. "That was the softest I'd run him on. I'll speak to the owners but if he's well, then why not go to the Breeders' Cup?"

Rosallion, who raced towards the rear from a wide draw before finishing powerfully under Sean Levey, came up short in a photo-finish. It is the third time this year he has finished second beaten less than half a length in a Group 1 following the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot and Sussex Stakes.

Even in defeat during a challenging season, Richard Hannon retained complete faith in his stable star, and said: "I'm gutted, absolutely gutted, but he ran another absolutely fabulous race. He's genuine, tough and the best horse in the race. And nobody did anything wrong."

The Lion In Winter produced an excellent effort to be third – a neck behind Rosallion – while his Aidan O'Brien-trained stablemate and the favourite Henri Matisse was fifth behind the pace-making Alcantor.

"I thought The Lion In Winter ran a very good race," said jockey Wayne Lordan. "He enjoyed getting a lead today and [being] on the turn. I'm very pleased with him."

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