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Olympic Glory’s Watch Me Wins the Rothschild

Alexander Tamagni-Bodmer and Regula Vannod’s Watch Me (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) had the obvious form claims for Sunday’s G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville and all went to script for last year’s G1 Coronation S. winner as she outbattled Half Light (Ire) (Shamardal) and Know It All (GB) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) for the win. Tracking Godolphin’s Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) throughout the early stages, the 7-10 favourite got the split on the rail to edge ahead approaching the 300-metre marker and stayed on to score by 3/4 of a length from Half Light, who denied Know It All for second by a short head. “It was not easy today and we’ve been lucky the gap opened on the inside so we could save every inch of ground,” a relieved winning rider Pierre-Charles Boudot explained. “If I’d had to come around them, it might have been a very different outcome as she was struggling bit at the end. Maybe she needs further now.”

Watch Me came to the fore with success in the G3 Prix Imprudence over seven furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte last April and may have been unlucky when subsequently sixth in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp the following month. Taken to the G1 Coronation S. in a daring move which demonstrated the regard in which she was held by Francis-Henri Graffard, she justified that bravery by upsetting Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Royal Ascot feature before earning a break. Back with a fourth in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois over this track and trip in August, the chestnut was trying 10 furlongs for the first time when beaten just under a length in third in the G1 Prix de l’Opera back at ParisLongchamp on Arc day.

Finely-tuned for this with a win in the course-and-distance Listed Prix de la Calonne July 12, she may have been fortunate that the rail opened up when it did as Summer Romance tired quickly but there were no excuses in behind and it would be hard to argue that she was not the best on the day. “She deserved this–it’s very hard to win two of these but she proved in the Opera in October that she was not finished,” Graffard commented. “She stays 10 furlongs, which gives her more options and we’ll see how she comes out of this. She can run in the Jacques le Marois, the [G1] Jean Romanet or the Opera. Every time she has been beaten, she has had a sound excuse and it’s a great credit to the team.”

Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard said of the up-and-coming runner-up, who was stepping up off a win in the G3 Hamburger Stutenmeile, “Half Light produced another fantastic performance and we are thrilled with her. She never runs a bad race and it was excellent work by her trainer to bring her back from Germany and get her fresh and ready for this. We will see how she comes out of today before deciding where we go from here, but everything she has done so far has been brilliant. She is by Shamardal and from the family of Galileo and Sea the Stars, so she has really exciting breeding potential for Godolphin.”

The dam Watchful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is a half-sister to the group and grade 3-placed Rabi (Ire) (Alzao) and the G3 Coventry S.-placed Kawagino (Ire) (Perugino). The third dam Sharaya (Youth) landed the G1 Prix Vermeille and is also the ancestress of the G2 Centaur S. winner Sans Adieu (Jpn) (French Deputy), as well as of the listed scorer and G1 Nunthorpe S. runner-up Hamish McGonagall (GB) (Namid {GB}). Also connected to the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Shawanda (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}) and the G1 Yorkshire Oaks and Vermeille heroine Shareta (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}), her 2-year-old colt by the same sire named Watch Him (Fr) (Elvstroem {Aus}) was bought by Amanda Skiffington for €100,000 at the Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale. Her yearling colt is again by Elvstroem.

Sunday, Deauville, France
PRIX ROTHSCHILD-G1, €180,000, Deauville, 8-2, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:34.05, gd.
1–WATCH ME (FR), 130, f, 4, by Olympic Glory (Ire)
1st Dam: Watchful (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Sharakawa (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Sharaya, by Youth
(€30,000 RNA Ylg ’17 ARAUG). O-Alexander Tamagni & Mme Regula Vannod; B-Mme Antoinette Tamagni-Bodmer & Cocheese Bloodstock Anstalt (FR); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €102,852. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 9-5-0-2, €625,144. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Half Light (Ire), 130, f, 4, Shamardal–Northern Melody (Ire), by Singspiel (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Henri-Alex Pantall. €41,148.
3–Know It All (GB), 122, f, 3, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)–Common Knowledge (GB), by Rainbow Quest. O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Qatar Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Johnny Murtagh. €20,574.
Margins: 3/4, SHD, 2. Odds: 0.70, 8.10, 12.00.
Also Ran: Speak of the Devil (Fr), Norma (GB), Summer Romance (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Sea the Stars’s Miss Yoda Takes the Diana

Capping a week to remember even by his exalted standards, Frankie Dettori dropped in on Dusseldorf to whip up the crowd as he steered the Westerberg colour-bearer Miss Yoda (Ger) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) to glory in the G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana. On the front from the outset and allowed her own terms, the June 5 Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial winner was only headed briefly in early straight as Silence Please (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) loomed but when shaken up forged a 3/4-of-a-length success from Zamrud (Ger) (Samum {Ger}), who nosed out Virginia Joy (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) for the runner’s-up spot. “She jumped good and I wanted to be in front–after that she was flowing with a lovely action,” commented Dettori who in the last eight days had won on the household names Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and ridden a winner for The Queen on his home track at Newmarket. “When I turned for home she was thinking of going back to the stables, so she stopped a bit but I told her to concentrate and away she went.”

Losing her unbeaten tag on her third and final juvenile start when runner-up in the G3 Zetland S. over 10 furlongs at Newmarket in October, Miss Yoda had returned to garner the Oaks Trial despite not handling Lingfield’s undulations and all Epsom aspirations were dashed there and then. Instead tried in Royal Ascot’s G2 Ribblesdale S. June 16, she was sixth there and was too keen when fourth in the 13-furlong G3 Bahrain Trophy back at Newmarket July 9. Enjoying an easy lead despite not always looking at home on this tight circuit, she was hanging left and looking likely to be swamped as Silence Please launched her challenge inside the final 300 metres. Quickly regaining momentum, the 5-1 shot was soon re-asserting as that Irish raider hung away her chance and it was another group 1 for her powerful connections.

The dam Monami (Ger) (Sholokhov {Ire}), whose yearling colt by Kingman (GB) was bought for 340,000gns by Baroda Stud at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, was the winner of the G2 Diana-Trial and the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin as well as finishing third in the G1 Premio di Vittorio di Capua. She is kin to the G1 Oaks d’Italia heroine Meridiana (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}), whose four stakes performers are headed by Chamois (Smart Strike) who was placed in the GII Dixie S. This is the family of the smart group 3-winning stayer Moonshiner (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and the G2 Diana-Trial winner Meergorl (Ger), also by Adlerflug. Monami also has an as-yet unraced 2-year-old colt by Amaron (GB) named Mahanadi {GB}) and a foal full-sister to Miss Yoda to come.

Sunday, Dusseldorf, Germany
162ND HENKEL-PREIS DER DIANA – GERMAN OAKS-G1, €500,000, Dusseldorf, 8-2, 3yo, f, 11fT, 2:14.34, gd.
1–MISS YODA (GER), 128, f, 3, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Monami (Ger) (Hwt. 2yo Filly-Ger, MGSW-Ger & G1SP-Ity, $151,856), by Sholokhov (Ire)
2nd Dam: Monbijou (Ger), by Dashing Blade (GB)
3rd Dam: Meerdunung (Gdr), by Tauchsport (Gdr)
1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€280,000 Ylg ’18 BBAGS). O-Westerberg; B-Gestut Etzean (GER); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. €300,000. Lifetime Record: SW & GSP-Eng, 7-4-1-0, €345,701. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Zamrud (Ger), 128, f, 3, Samum (Ger)–Zambuka (Fr), by Zieten. O-Rennstall Gestut Hachtsee; B-Gestut Hachtsee (GER); T-Sarah Steinberg. €100,000.
3–Virginia Joy (Ger), 128, f, 3, Soldier Hollow (GB)–Virginia Sun (Ger), by Doyen (Ire). O/B-Gestut Auenquelle (GER); T-Marcel Weiss. €50,000.
Margins: 3/4, NO, 1HF. Odds: 5.30, 9.70, 5.30.
Also Ran: Silence Please (Ire), Kalifornia Queen (Ger), Elle Memory (Ger), Ocean Fantasy (Fr), Snow (Ger), For Pleasure (Ger), No Limit Credit (Ger), Flamingo Girl (Ger), Sister Lulu (Ger), Tangut (Ger), Paloma Ohe (GB), Moon A Lisa (Ger). Scratched: Tickle Me Green (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Bated Breath’s Cairn Gorm Takes the Cabourg

Unbeaten entering Sunday’s G3 Darley Prix de Cabourg, Cairn Gorm (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) kept his tally secure with a battling effort in the Deauville sunshine. Helped by the fact that his compatriot and the 11-10 market-leader Mighty Gurkha (Ire) (Sepoy {Aus}) was left at the start, the chestnut who was carrying the Hunscote Stud colours tracked the pace and was perfectly positioned before hitting the front passing the furlong pole. Asserting from there under Tom Marquand, the 17-5 second favourite scored by a length from Jubilation (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), with a head back to Prince Lancelot (GB) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) in third. “He’s a very nice horse and the ground was quick enough for him today, so he was a little bit hesitant early on,” the winning rider commented. “When he found his stride, he really went and is still undefeated. Whether he’s good enough for a higher level or not you’d only know when you tried.”

This was an inspired piece of placing by connections, with Cairn Gorm having previous won on debut at Windsor June 22 and when under a subsequent penalty at Newbury July 8. Trainer Mick Channon said, “We thought he was a nice horse, but he had to step up today and he has. He’s won a group three going away, so we’ll have to think about taking him back here for the [G1] Prix Morny later in the month.”

Cairn Gorm is out of In Your Time (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), who is a three-parts sister to the G3 Musidora S. winner Time Away (Ire) by Dalakhani’s sire Darshaan (GB). Her own descendants are headed by the G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Cursory Glance (Distorted Humor), while she is kin to the G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Time Ahead (GB) (Spectrum {Ire}) and the listed-placed Moment of Time (GB) (Rainbow Quest). She is in turn the dam of the G2 Crystal Mile scorer Chief Ironside (GB) (Lawman {Fr}). The third dam is the four-times group 1-winning champion Time Charter (Ire) (Saritamer) who was also responsible for the G2 Jockey Club S.-winning pair Time Allowed (GB) (Sadler’s Wells) and Zinaad (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}). In Your Time’s yearling colt is by Havana Gold (Ire).

Sunday, Deauville, France
DARLEY PRIX DE CABOURG-G3, €56,000, Deauville, 8-2, 2yo, 5fT, 1:11.20, gd.
1–CAIRN GORM (GB), 126, c, 2, by Bated Breath (GB)
1st Dam: In Your Time (GB), by Dalakhani (Ire)
2nd Dam: Not Before Time (Ire), by Polish Precedent
3rd Dam: Time Charter (Ire), by Saritamer
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (19,000gns RNA Wlg ’18 TATFOA; £35,000 RNA Ylg ’19 GOFFPR). O-Hunscote Stud Ltd & Partner; B-Hunscote Stud (GB); T-Mick Channon; J-Tom Marquand. €28,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €36,972. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Jubilation (Ire), 122, f, 2, Acclamation (GB)–Fairy Dancer (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). (60,000 Ylg ’19 TAOCT). O-Mme Susan Davis, Ballylinch Stud, Peter Ronald Mitchell & Mme Melissa O’Neill; B-Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Eoghan O’Neill. €11,200.
3–Prince Lancelot (GB), 126, c, 2, Sir Prancealot (Ire)–Rainbow Vale (Fr), by Moss Vale (Ire). (€90,000 Ylg ’19 ARAUG). O-Antoine Gilibert & Fabrice Chappet; B-Ecurie Skymarc Farm (GB); T-Fabrice Chappet. €8,400.
Margins: 1, HD, HF. Odds: 3.40, 6.90, 6.90.
Also Ran: Axdavali (Fr), Winvalchope (Fr), Mighty Gurkha (Ire), Lagoken (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Former Jumps Jockey Mellor Dies

Stan Mellor, who was the first jumps jockey to ride 1,000 winners, has died aged 83.

Mellor retired from the saddle in 1972 after riding 1,034 winners and went on to a successful training career with jumps and flat horses, training more than 700 winners.

Brough Scott, who started as an amateur rider when Mellor was in his prime and has since gone on to a career in sports writing and broadcasting, paid tribute to his former colleague, saying, “He was a pioneer and a mentor, and a worker for other people. But he was a brilliant, brilliant champion jockey–the ultimate brain over brawn. He could do things others couldn’t–people have a particular shot they can play in cricket, or a move at football. Stan Mellor, wow. He was amazing.

“His particular thing, over fences–to do with his show-jumping background–he would wind a horse up and launch it at the last fence with a rhythm and power that would be a match-winning leap. They never missed–he had it down to a tee, and when he wound them up like that, he knew what he had beneath him, and he timed it for an unbelievable match-winning blow. It was absolutely extraordinary, a byword–no one else did it like that.”

Scott said Mellor also enjoyed mentoring young riders and advocating for jockeys’ welfare.

“He did more for jockeys than anyone else has ever done, or ever will,” he said. “At the time when jockeys were only just getting themselves organised, he was the pioneer for everything; new helmets, backpads, concrete posts, insurance. The Jockeys’ Association had only just started, but he’d be the brightest person at the meeting with the head of Levy Board and such.

“He was very, very good at training youngsters. He always wanted to share his knowledge–he was a tremendous person to go and talk to. I’ll rejoice in his life, although it’s infinitely sad to think of him not being there any more.”

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