Rosallion's wait for a first victory of the season continues, as Francis-Henri Graffard’s Sahlan produced a career best to win the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.
It has been a trying summer for Richard Hannon’s stable star, who has had made the podium in the Lockinge, Queen Anne and Sussex Stakes before finishing a close-up fourth in the City of York last month.
Sent to Paris, the scene of his Group One triumph as a juvenile, his luck was fancied to change and he finishing strongly in the hands of Sean Levey.
However, this time he had to give way to one of the home contingent, as Francis-Henri Graffard’s contender – who was down the field in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains earlier in the summer and was supplemented earlier in the week – stepped up markedly on his Group Three victory at Deauville last month to strike.
Sahlan held a narrow advantage over Rosallion on the line, with The Lion In Winter filling the third position for Aidan O’Brien. The winner, who returned 161-10 on the PMU and a UK and Ireland industry price of 20-1, could now head to the Breeders’ Cup.
Graffard, who is enjoying a dream season in his homeland, told Sky Sports Racing: "You have to thank the owners for respecting my opinion and trusting me to take on a big challenge.
"I said to Sheikh Joaan (of Al Shaqab Racing) I didn’t have many options for the horse, I think he’s in very good form, he can quicken, it’s a big gamble, but if we’re in the first five, we have nothing to lose.
"He believed in me and it’s paid off nicely. I always liked this horse, he’s been beaten but in the Poule d’Essai we had a lot of excuses and I couldn’t blame the horse. He was sick when he was beaten in the Listed race and then he won a Group Three comfortably.
"I had the support, and I’m very happy. I don’t think I will run him again on soft ground here. If he’s well, we might look to the Breeders’ Cup Mile but he’s a horse we will likely keep as a four-year-old."
