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. He was also Godolphin’s number one rider in France before switching to become retained rider for the Aga Khan. 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 2011 English Derby win 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 crown with 192 wins. He won the International Jockeys’ Championship in 2024 and following this has enjoyed plenty of success in 2025, forming a formidable partnership with Calandagan. The pair won three Group 1 races, namely King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Champion Stakes and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. In addition, his victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe atop the Aga Khan’s Daryz is the highlight of his career. He also won the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, Preis von Europa and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf this year. Honours:French Flat Racing Champion Jockey (2021); International Jockeys’ Championship winner (2024). IJC record: 2024 – WON; 2023 - 6th; 2021 – 2nd (DH); 2020 – 11th; 2018 - 8th (DH); 2016 - 10th.