Tag: Francis-Henri Graffard

Deauville Stakes Double For Graffard Stable In Prix de Pomone Thriller

Francis Graffard trainee Melo Melo (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}–You Look So Good {GB}, by Excellent Art {GB}) had raced exclusively in stakes company in each of her six latest starts, bagging a career best in ParisLongchamp's Listed Prix Gold River in May when last seen, and continued on a rapid upward trajectory with a game success in Saturday's G2 Prix de Pomone at Deauville.

The 47-10 chance employed patient tactics and tracked the leaders in a midfield sixth through halfway in this staging post for the G1 Prix de Royallieu on Arc weekend and inched closer rounding the home turn. Coming under pressure at the top of the straight, she gained an edge approaching the final furlong and was driven out to bravely withstand the late lunge of stablemate Baiykara (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) by a short-neck in a thrilling finish. Juddmonte's G3 Prix de Royaumont victrix Ottery (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) did not enjoy the clearest of passages inside the final quarter-mile and ran on well to finish 3/4-of-a-length down in third.

“She was ready to run again and delivered nicely for a career high,” commented Graffard. “She likes it soft, she had the right conditions today and it was the perfect ride from Mickael [Barzalona]. With this performance, she has earned the right to try her chance in the [Sept. 30 G1] Prix Vermeille [at ParisLongchamp].”

Pedigree Notes
Melo Melo becomes the 18th pattern-race winner for her sire and is one of two produced by You Look So Good (GB) (Excellent Art {GB}), whose first is the G3 Curragh S. and GIII G3 Senorita S. victrix Treasuring (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}). Her dam is a full-sister to G2 Rockfel S. placegetter Gray Pearl (GB) and a half to G2 Goldene Peitsche and G3 Lotto Trophy victor Electric Beat (GB) (Shinko Forest {Ire}) and Listed Washington Singer S. third Blakey's Boy (GB) (Hawk Wing). You Look So Good is a granddaughter of Rossaldene (GB) (Mummy's Pet {Ire}), herself the dam of dual stakes-winning G1 Irish 2000 Guineas third Cape Town (Ire) (Desert Style {Ire}) as well as being the ancestress of G1 Queen Anne S. and G1 Prix de la Foret-winning sire Paco Boy (Ire) (Desert Style {Ire}). The February-foaled grey is kin to the unraced 2-year-old filly Sovereign Girl (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire), a yearling colt by Wootton Bassett (GB) and and a weanling colt foal Too Darn Hot (GB).

 

Saturday, Deauville, France
PRIX DE POMONE-G2, €130,000, Deauville, 8-19, 3yo/up, f/m, 12 1/2fT, 2:48.22, hy.
1–MELO MELO (GB), 130, f, 4, by Gleneagles (Ire)
1st Dam: You Look So Good (GB), by Excellent Art (GB)
2nd Dam: Divine Grace (Ire), by Definite Article (GB)
3rd Dam: Grey Patience (Ire), by Common Grounds (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN. (110,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA). O-Ecurie Ama.Zingteam; B-The Pocock Family (GB); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Mickael Barzalona. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 10-4-2-0, €158,450. *1/2 to Treasuring (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}), GSW-Ire & SP-US, $164,287. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Baiykara (Fr), 130, f, 4, Zarak (Fr)–Balankiyla (Fr), by Montjeu (Ire). O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €28,600.
3–Ottery (GB), 121, f, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Longina (Ger), by Monsun (Ger). (800,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Juddmonte; B-Al Shahania Stud (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €13,650.
Margins: SNK, 3/4, HF. Odds: 4.70, 6.20, 2.20.
Also Ran: Golden Lyra (Ire), La Mehana (Fr), Heartache Tonight (Fr), Manisha (Ire), Alpenblume (GB), Winema (Fr), Wonderful Times (Ire). Scratched: Voodoo Queen (GB). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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TDN Rising Star Les Pavots Impresses In Deauville’s Prix du Calvados

'TDN Rising Star' Les Pavots (Ire) (No Nay Never) encountered G1 Prix Morny contender Ramatuelle (Justify) when hitting the board in June's G3 Prix du Bois at Chantilly and backed up a win in last month's Listed Prix des Jouvenceaux et des Jouvencelles at Vichy with an impressive performance and a career high in Saturday's G2 Prix du Calvados at Deauville.

The 22-5 chance was steadied to race at the tail of the field and found a comfortable rhythm tracking all seven rivals through the early fractions. Making smooth headway from halfway, she quickened in impressive fashion when shaken up with 300 metres remaining and kept on strongly under urging in the closing stages to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths from British challenger Ornellaia (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). Last month's G3 Prix Six Perfections victrix Laulne (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) was prominent throughout and finished 1 3/4 lengths back in third.

“She is a talented filly and improving with every race,” said trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. “I had some concerns today about the [very] soft ground, but she handled it beautifully. She is in the [G1] Marcel Boussac and that is a logical next step, but we also have in mind to take her to the [GI] Breeders cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita.”

Pedigree Notes
Les Pavots, a private purchase from Coolmore, is the fifth of six foals and one of four scorers from as many runners produced by G3 Ballyogan S. third Sparrow (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), herself out of G3 Middleton S. victrix and G1 Oaks second All Too Beautiful (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). All Too Beautiful,  a daughter of storied matriarch Urban Sea (Miswaki), is the dam of G1 Oaks, G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks placegetter Wonder Of Wonders (Kingmambo) and the stakes-winning sire Victory Song (Ire) (Dansili {GB}). Her descendants include stakes-winning G1 Moyglare Stud S. and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas third So Wonderful (War Front) and stakes-winning G1 Epsom Oaks third Alluringly (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The March-foaled chestnut, who becomes the 32nd pattern-race winner for her sire, is a half-sister to G1 Cox Plate and G1 Tancred S. hero Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), dual stakes-winning G3 Gordon S. and G3 N E Manion Cup placegetter Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and a yearling colt by Camelot (GB).

 

Saturday, Deauville, France
PRIX DU CALVADOS-G2, €130,000, Deauville, 8-19, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:27.07, hy.
1–LES PAVOTS (IRE), 123, f, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Sparrow (Ire) (GSP-Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: All Too Beautiful (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Urban Sea, by Miswaki
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Craig Bernick & Haras d'Etreham; B-Coolmore Stud (IRE); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Mickael Barzalona. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-1, €143,100. *1/2 to Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), MG1SW-Aus, GSW-Eng & G1SP-Ire, $3,663,231; and Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), SW & GSP-Aus, SW-Ire & GSP-Eng, $192,495. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ornellaia (GB), 123, f, 2, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Namhroodah (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (260,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Dominic Ffrench Davis. €28,600.
3–Laulne (Fr), 123, f, 2, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Lady Francesca (GB), by Montjeu (Ire). O-Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Franklin Finance SA (FR); T-Yann Barberot. €13,650.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 4.40, 2.50, 2.90.
Also Ran: Les Bleus (GB), Classic Flower (GB), Eclaire La Vie (Fr), Tiffanyli (Fr), Quorate (GB). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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No Nay Never’s TDN Rising Star Les Pavots Strikes At Vichy

Adding more gravitas, if any were needed, to her compatriot Ramatuelle (Justify) who had handed her a comprehensive beating in the G3 Prix du Bois, Haras d'Etreham and Craig Bernick's TDN Rising Star Les Pavots (Ire) (No Nay Never) found her level on Wednesday evening when winning Vichy's Listed Prix des Jouvenceaux et des Jouvencelles. Beaten 6 3/4 lengths by that hugely-talented Christopher Head trainee in the six-furlong test at Chantilly last month, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained half-sister to the G1 Cox Plate and G1 Tancred S. hero Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) was up a furlong here and Mickael Barzalona was able to sit near the back and bide his time.

Still towards rear turning for home, the 19-10 favourite got rolling soon after to swoop on the front end passing the furlong pole. At the line, the filly who had been one of a trio of private purchases from Coolmore last year had half a length to spare over Juddmonte's Employ (Ire) (Caravaggio), with a neck back to Tulipa Chope (Fr) (Born To Sea {Ire}) in third.

Les Pavots, who had been handed the TDN Rising Star tag on her impressive debut over the Prix du Bois course and distance in early May, had found Balsam (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) 3/4 of a length too strong in this track's Listed Prix des Reves d'Or dropping to five later that month. That form was shown in a kind light when the winner went on to finish just over five lengths behind Crimson Advocate (Nyquist) in Royal Ascot's G2 Queen Mary S. next time and five furlongs was always going to be on the sharp side for a filly with this pedigree.

Les Pavots is the fifth of six foals out of Coolmore's G3 Ballyogan S.-placed Sparrow (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who also produced the dual stakes winner and G3 Gordon S. runner-up Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Her dam is the G3 Middleton S. winner and Oaks runner-up All Too Beautiful (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), a daughter of the legendary Urban Sea (Miswaki) and therefore a full-sister to the great Galileo (Ire). Sparrow's yearling colt is by Camelot (GB).

Wednesday, Vichy, France
PRIX DES JOUVENCEAUX ET DES JOUVENCELLES – BERNARD FERRAND-Listed, €60,000, Vichy, 7-19, 2yo, 7fT, 1:26.09, g/s.
1–LES PAVOTS (IRE), 125, f, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Sparrow (Ire) (GSP-Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: All Too Beautiful (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Urban Sea, by Miswaki
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Craig Bernick & Haras d'Etreham; B-Coolmore Stud (IRE); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Mickael Barzalona. €30,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Fr, 4-2-1-1, €69,000. *1/2 to Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), MG1SW-Aus, GSW-Eng & G1SP-Ire, $3,663,231; and Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), SW & GSP-Aus, SW-Ire & GSP-Eng, $192,495.
2–Employ (Ire), 125, f, 2, Caravaggio–Emergent (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ireland Ltd (IRE); T-Henri-Francois Devin. €12,000.
3–Tulipa Chope (Fr), 125, f, 2, Born To Sea (Ire)–Tulipe Rouge (Fr), by Panis. 1ST BLACK TYPE. (€5,000 Ylg '22 OSASEP). O-Alain Jathiere; B-Alain Chopard & Cedric Boutin (FR); T-Stephane Wattel. €9,000.
Margins: HF, NK, 2HF. Odds: 1.90, 7.60, 3.90.
Also Ran: Lightning Leo (GB), Man With The Plan (Ire), Vive La Reine (Fr), Wootton Verni (Fr), Gee Whizzer (Fr), Rose Academy (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Observations: Son of Moonlight Cloud Debuts on Jockey Club Undercard

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's insights features the unveiling of Hantano (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), son of MG1SW Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

13.35 Chantilly, Debutantes, €50,000, 2yo, c/g, 5 1/2fT
HANTANO (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a fascinating runner in this intriguing and valuable juvenile opener to the Prix du Jockey Club fixture, being a son of George Strawbridge's remarkable six-times group 1 winner Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Yet to produce a black-type performer, he is in the charge of Victoria Head and encounters The Aga Khan's Shadizi (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a Francis-Henri Graffard-trained half-brother to the multiple group-placed Shahnaza (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}).

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