Mickael Barzalona
Age: 32
Background:
Mickael Barzalona was born in Avignon, France, a grandson of Corsican trainer Christian Barzalona and nephew of former Flat and Jumps jockey Armand Barzalona. He began his career with France’s standout trainer, Andre Fabre, with whom he is still associated, and is Godolphin’s number one rider in France. A precocious sensation, he enjoyed a stunning Dubai Carnival in 2011, at age 19, winning major races for the Godolphin operation, and that momentum took him to a famous English Derby win in June of that year aboard Pour Moi for Fabre and Coolmore. He then headed to Hong Kong for a short stint in 2011/12, notching one winner from 42 rides. Barzalona won the 2012 Dubai World Cup aboard Monterosso and the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Turf on Talismanic. In 2021, he claimed the Champion Stakes at Ascot with Sealiway before sealing the French Flat Racing Champion Jockey with 192 wins, while through 2022 the Frenchman has added a further three Group 1s to his haul in France and the United Arab Emirates. In 2023 he won aboard Marhaba Ya Sanafi in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains. He has enjoyed considerable success riding in Europe and across the Middle East.
Honours:
French Flat Racing Champion Jockey (2021).
Notable Wins Include:
Epsom Derby (2011 Pour Moi), Dubai World Cup (2012 Monterosso), Champion Stakes (2021 Sealiway), Breeders’ Cup Turf (2017 Talismanic), St Leger (2012 Encke), Poule d’Essai des Poulains (2020 Victor Ludorum, 2023 Marhaba Ya Sanafi), Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (2015 Ultra, 2019 Victor Ludorum, 2020 Sealiway, 2022 Belbek), Middle Park Stakes (2019 Earthlight), Al Maktoum Challenge – Round 3 (2017 Long River, 2019 Capezzano, 2020 Matterhorn, 2022 Hypothetical).
Hong Kong Career Wins (as of 3 February, 2024):
4

23/24 Season         Up to Race Meeting of 27/03/2024
Nationality : FR No. of Wins : 1 Total Rides : 21
Stakes won : $3,239,540 No. of 2nds : 2 Win % : 4.76%
No. of Wins in past 10 race days : 0 No. of 3rds : 0
No. of 4ths : 3

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