Marquand booked for Diane winner Gezora in Arc

Francis-Henri Graffard has confirmed his three jockeys for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with Tom Marquand picking up the mount on Prix de Diane winner Gezora.

Marquand, who recently won the St Leger for the second time on Aidan O’Brien’s Scandinavia, has yet to land Europe’s showpiece race.

Graffard also runs Daryz (Mickael Barzalona) and Prix Jean Romanet heroine Quisisana, who will be ridden by Alexis Pouchin.

“As usual Mickael Barzalona will ride Daryz, Alexis Pouchin has ridden Quisisana before and Tom Marquand has been booked for Gezora,” said Graffard.

Of Gezora, who finished second to Arc favourite Aventure in the Prix Vermeille, Graffard, who has won 10 Group Ones around Europe this season with the likes of Zarigana, Calandagan and Goliath, said: “Gezora’s race in the Prix Vermeille was really good.

“She galloped on really nicely at the end under hands and heels from Mickael Barzalona who was very pleased with her. Aventure was very difficult to beat that day is a favourite for the Arc. We really rode her to build her for the Arc.

“A mile and a half will be perfect, soft ground is a not a problem, she is very easy filly. The Arc is very open this year, it’s a very tough race. I will cross my fingers, but she deserves to take her chance.”

Daryz came to York for the Juddmonte International but that race will be remembered for the pacesetting Birr Castle going 20 lengths clear and nearly holding on.

Since then he came close to beating Japanese Derby winner Croix Du Nord in a Group Two.

“Daryz is only three and while he has not run over a mile and a half, he is by Sea The Stars who won the Arc,” said Graffard.

“We always thought he was a very nice horse, but he was immature mentally and physically so we found some easy races in the spring that were not too challenging.

“To give him more maturity we took him to York for the Juddmonte International, but that was an odd race.

“We always thought a mile and a half would be his trip so we ran him in the Prince d’Orange and he ran really well having been a bit unlucky in the straight, but he finished very strongly. Soft ground won’t be a problem for him as it was very soft that day.”

Arguably the dark horse of the Graffard trio is Quisisana, a five-year-old mare who arrives having won her last four races, most recently the Group One Prix Jean Romanet.

“I like her a lot, she had health issues at three and four, but she’s a lovely mare,” said Graffard.

“She’s beautiful, she has a lot of quality and a turn of foot, a mile and a half will be perfect for her. I just wouldn’t want the ground to become too heavy.”