Francis-Henri Graffard retains resolute belief in Goliath as the five-year-old bids to become the first French winner of Sunday’s (27 April) HK$28 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) since Jim And Tonic in 1999.

The Chantilly trainer arrived in the nick of time to see his stable star exercise on the sodden dirt course at Sha Tin on Friday morning (25 April) and was pleased with what he saw. 

It has been the plan for Goliath to begin his season in Sunday’s event since he finished a respectable sixth to local champion Do Deuce in the G1 Japan Cup (2400m) in November. 

That race did not go to plan but Graffard is hopeful the benefit of the experience and the drop back to 2000m for the first time since 2023 can trigger a performance akin to his G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2392m) victory last July. 

“The idea to go to Japan was to find a strong pace,” the trainer said at a press conference held at Sha Tin. “We were stuck on the rail, drawn in one, and everything went against him. It was a big experience because the start was in front of the stands and it was all new for him, but he still managed to run decently. 

“It was the plan to drop him back in distance here for the beginning of the season. Obviously we will be seeing him step up in trip again, but we thought we’d try and get a good pace. When he has pace, he’s a very impressive horse. When things go his way during a race, as everybody saw in the King George, he’s an amazing horse.”

Of the five Group 1 winners in opposition on Sunday, two are Japanese. Meanwhile, Prognosis is bidding to improve on his last two second places in the race behind Romantic Warrior and Liberty Island is also hoping to go one better after finishing runner-up to the same horse in December’s HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m). 

Graffard has already earmarked a return to Tokyo for the Japan Cup later in the year and boasts ample respect for the pair, but believes Goliath has what it takes to topple them.

“It sounds like everywhere we go in the world now the main opposition is Japanese horses,” he said. “They are an unbelievable breed and fantastic horses, but I have a lot of belief in my horse and I know when he’s at his best and things go his way he’s a very, very good horse.”

While known for his sharp turn of foot over middle distances, Goliath has also gained popularity through his unique stringhalt gait. 

On the neurological condition, Graffard said: “He was born like it and it’s just his way of walking. It’s quite impressive. His action is nothing and it’s hard to see a good horse in him the way he moves. 

“I remember at Royal Ascot in the paddock he was doing it with both legs and I was like ‘oh my God’, but when he canters and accelerates, he’s impressive. The mechanic is good, it’s just at his walk. Sometimes he does it and sometimes he doesn’t – it’s why he’s such a personality.”

Sunday’s (27 April) 10-race fixture at Sha Tin kicks off at 12.45pm with the Class 4 FWD Insurance ACT Private Handicap (1800m). The HK$22 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) and HK$28 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) headline the programme.