Drazinda could prove another feather in the cap of Francis-Henri Graffard
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 16 Jun 2026
Francis-Henri Graffard is an Ascot regular but not with juveniles so the fact he runs Drazinda in the Queen Mary Stakes on Wednesday is interesting.
The daughter of Sioux Nation made an instant impact at Chantilly when beating Loppela by a length to land the Prix de la Mere Marie on debut.
“She’s a lovely filly and I think Francis has already been reported as saying that since she came into training she was the two-year-old of ours that showed the most speed and precocity,” said Nemone Routh, racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs in France.
“She works well in the morning and works with our good sprinters, but obviously she is very inexperienced, she’s got to travel and get through the preliminaries, so there’s a whole heap of tests for her to get through.
“On what she shows us in the morning we think she’s of this level, but it’s a huge field and a big ask and you need luck in running as well.”
Karl Burke runs two in the shape of the unbeaten duo of Wild Blossom and Love A Giggle.
Wild Blossom, a 300,000 guineas buy at the Craven Breeze-Up sales, made an eye-catching start to her career at Carlisle when she strode clear in the final furlong to rout the field by 10 lengths.
“She looks very quick and she’s got a great mind – hopefully Ascot won’t faze her,” said Burke.
“She’s had a good prep into this race and hopefully she can run a big one.”
Love A Giggle was a comfortable winner as she made her racecourse bow at Southwell and followed that up when stepped up to Listed level at York.
Burke added: “Her maiden at Southwell has worked out really well. At the time you wouldn’t know what you beat, but post that race I know Richard Hannon was very disappointed that his filly (Pershaada) got beat and she subsequently came out and won a novice at Goodwood and won well, so he obviously thinks highly of her.
“We stepped up again at York, beating a decent Irish horse (Armor Supreme) and the fourth from that race (Angels Passing) won easily at Hamilton next time, so the form stacks up and physically I think she’s come on.”
Triptych’s trainer Patrick Biancone has sent Celtic Dispute over from America.
“Royal Ascot is where everybody wants to be,” he said.
“You need to have a good horse to come. There are many places in the world you can go with money, but at Ascot you need to come with your horse. It is more difficult.”
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