No matter where you are in the world, horse racing fans should learn the name Francis-Henri Graffard.
The 48-year-old French trainer is exiting a career year in 2025, which had a perfect bow wrapped on it Jan. 20 when Calandagan was honored as the Longines World's Best Racehorse. Furthermore, he was the only trainer to have two horses represented in the award's top nine as Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner Daryz finished in a three-way tie for seventh.
That status atop the international leaderboard should come as no surprise for a trainer who developed a love for—and confidence to compete in—international racing through Godolphin's Flying Start program.
"(Flying Start) exposed me to racing worldwide; big meetings, important people," the 2005 Flying Start graduate said on the Jan. 26 episode of the BloodHorse Monday podcast. "As a trainer, I never worried about running a horse in a group 1 or group 2 because I was exposed to it and had been on the podium in a different role. I definitely think all that previous experience—and international experience—really helped me for the future of my career."
Graffard displayed that confidence to a T in 2025, setting a single-season record for a French trainer with 14 grade/group 1 victories. Defending his home turf with nine group 1s in France—capped by Daryz's Arc—Graffard also tacked on top-level wins in Germany, England, and Japan—where he saddled Calandagan to become the first foreign winner of the Japan Cup (G1T) in 20 years.
However, one of the major highlights of his season came Nov. 1 at Del Mar when Graffard scored his first grade 1 win in America, as well as his first Breeders' Cup World Championships honors, with Gezora in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T).
Graffard praised the atmosphere surrounding the Breeders' Cup and said it occurs at the perfect time of year as European trainers are typically winding down their seasons.
"The Breeders' Cup is doing a fantastic job to make it a big, special event," Graffard said. "I will target all of them (the Breeders' Cup races), don't worry."
Graffard's American interests don't strictly fall on more championship moments at the Breeders' Cup. World-class jockey Ryan Moore sparked a little Kentucky Derby (G1) fever in the trainer during a December conversation in Hong Kong. While congratulating Graffard on his Japan Cup success, Moore told him the two hardest races to win are the Japan Cup and the Kentucky Derby.
"I will be looking for dirt horses now also, and hopefully I can win the 'big one' one day," Graffard said. "So, here we come."
Graffard also expressed interest in keeping a string of horses in America throughout the summer, targeting competition at tracks like Saratoga Race Course and Kentucky Downs. In fact, Graffard said he plans to begin buying Kentucky-bred horses with Kentucky Downs specifically in mind. Boasting one of America's most lucrative race meets already, Kentucky-breds run for added bonuses at Kentucky Downs—and at the commonwealth's four other tracks—through the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.
"I love American racing, and I think there's plenty of opportunity, especially on turf," Graffard said. "I need a bit of time to organize myself, but I always think (about having) a bunch of horses in a stable over there to compete in the meeting in Saratoga. It should be my goal and my objective, because I have a big yard.
During BloodHorse Monday, Graffard also dove deeper into Calandagan's award-winning season as well as the top performances from Daryz and Gezora.
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