7 April 2020
Photos scoopdyga.com
Wednesday, April 10, 2019, Maisons-Laffitte. - Watch Me (Olympic Glory) very bravely held off the favourite Suphala (Frankel) in the Prix Imprudence (Gr3) over 7 furlongs, Wednesday at Maisons-Laffitte. Only a short neck separates the two fillies while Jet Setteuse (Makfi) only beat Devant (Showcasing) by a head for 3rd place at one and a half lengths.
The winner is trained by Francis Graffard for Alexander Tamagni and Regula Vannod. She was bred in France, at the Haras du Petit Tellier and then the Haras de Saint-Julien, by Antoinette Tamagni and Cocheese Bloodstock Anstalt. Last year, she finished 3rd for her debut and went on to win the Criterium du Languedoc (L) immediately after that. She hadn't raced since then.
She was bought back for €30,000 at the Arqana August 2017 sales, where she was consigned by Mrs Tamagni's Haras du Petit Tellier. The filly's younger Elvstroem brother was also unsold € 8,000 only last December in Deauville.
In the Colts' version of these two classic prep races, the Prix Djebel (Gr3), the finish was even tighter. Indeed, the photo-finish demanded a thorough examination to point to Munitions (War Front) as the winner over Graignes (Zoffany). The Godolphin stocky youngster had taken over 100 yards out on the stands' side, where the four first home went. Graignes attacked to the end, but could not take the advantage.
Amilcar (Wootton Bassett) finished third after leading Toijk (Siyouni), who was boxed in at the decisive moment.
Munitions was purchased as a yearling in Keeneland, Kentucky, by Godolphin for $ 550,000. He is out of War Echo (Tapit), winner of a Gr3 in the United States and a three-quarter sister to US Gr1 winner Pyro (Pulpit), a very American origin who has distinguished himself on dirt. He started his career by two wins last season but finished 2nd in the Listed Prix Zedaan and then 4th in another Listed event. He was coming back from his winter spell in the Djebel.
Since then ...
Watch Me has been unlucky in running in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas, Gr1), her next race. Ridden by Olivier Peslier, she first found herself boxed in, then blocked, and finally forced to move out in the last furlong to finish sixth behind Castle Lady. However, she took brilliant revenge at Royal Ascot in the Coronation Stakes (Gr1), becoming the best 3-year-old filly over the mile in Europe. Faced with males and her elders in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois (Gr1), she finished fourth, a nose behind Line of Duty, and ended her season with a fourth place in the Prix de l'Opéra Longines (Gr1), her first test over a mile and a quarter. She is still in training.
Her Elvstroem yearling brother was bought at the Arqana October sales for € 100,000 and he is training with Fabrice Chappet. The elder, also by Elstroem, is in training with John Oxx in Ireland and did not run but is entered in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris. A third Elvstroem colt was born in 2019.
The first home in the 2019 Prix Djebel have not been very successful. Munitions ran three times without reaching the frame, the last time in the Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr1) over 6 1/2 furlongs in August at Deauville. Graignes beat him in the Poule d'Essai, finishing fourth to Persian King. He later took a second place in the Prix du Pin (Gr3) before being sold for € 600,000 at the Arc Arqana sale. He made a comeback over 7 furlongs at Riyadh, the night of the Saudi Cup last February, for his new connections.
The Djebel last, Harmless, however, made amends this winter at Cagnes-sur-Mer for trainer Ludovic Rovisse, who claimed him and made him win two races including the Riviera Grand Prix (L)!