Cambridge Stud’s Almanzor (FR) has been firing in the Northern Hemisphere this year and one of his star performers has been French Oaks winner Gezora, who raised the bar again at Del Mar on Sunday when taking out the Group I Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare (1m3f).
Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, Gezora bounced back from an unplaced run in the Group I Arc de Triomphe to score a half length win taking her overall record to five wins from 10 starts.
Bred by Haras d’Etreham, Gezora was sold privately at the end of her two year-old season to Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm.
“It’s a meeting I’ve always loved and tried to win one, but it’s very hard. I saw that again today how hard it is and you really need a horse like Gezora, who has a big heart, travels really strongly and is able to quicken. She’s a champion filly and it’s fantastic to win a race ace like that, especially for Mr. Brant in his famous colors,” said Francis – Henri Graffard, who was always confident the filly had come out of her Arc run well.
“The Arc was 17 runners, a very strong field, soft ground and a mile and a half. It’s a different journey, but she was way too far back in the race.
“I was hoping she came out really well and she did. She’s a very sweet filly and she tries very hard. She’s not complicated, so she helps us do the job.
“Today she proved she’s a real champion. She’s a Classic winner, Prix de Diane winner and a Breeders’ Cup winner--which is amazing--and I don’t think many fillies have this on their CV.”
Gezora is a half-sister to stakes-placed Garance and is the best of seven winners from Group I winning Silver Hawk mare Germance.
She is one three Group I winners among 25 stakes-winners for Almanzor, a champion son of Wootton Bassett who stands at Cambridge Stud a fee of $30,000.
