GRAFFARD CAN TRULY SAY ‘WATCH ME’ AFTER TWO TOP-GRADE VICTORIES
An amazing few days in the career of French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard began with a victory in the G1 Prix De Diane, the French Oaks, and was completed by a first Royal Ascot win.
Watch Me’s 20/1 success in the G1 Coronation Stakes was a fabulous follow-up to Channel’s win in Sunday’s big race at Chantilly. Graffard can claim to train two of the top fillies in Europe, and there was no mistaking Watch Me’s superiority in today’s one-mile test for three-year-old fillies.
Ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot she won by one and a half lengths from the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Hermosa (evens favourite), with Jubiloso (9/2) a further one length back in third.
Graffard said: “It’s a week you dream of. As I was saying on Sunday, you get up every morning to do this job and to be part of the game at this level.
“That’s why I set up in Chantilly – I wanted to win Classics and big races. It happened on Sunday, which was a big day for a Frenchman, in France, and I was confident today again. I trusted in my filly, and she has worked well, which gave me confidence.”
Watch Me was luckless in running during the Poule d’Essai Des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas), in which she finished sixth, and Graffard said: “I thought we had to put that race in the Guineas behind us, because everything went against her, and today we were 20/1, which was good for me with the owner. I was able to say to them ‘Enjoy yourself, we are an outsider and there is no pressure’.
“It’s a fantastic result. She travelled very nicely, and while I have to watch the race again she did it very well. After the Guineas Olivier Peslier told me to run her in the Prix de Diane, but after bad luck in that race I didn’t want to change everything [by stepping her up in trip] and so I said let’s stay with the first plan and go to Ascot.”
WATCH ME IS THE QUEEN FOR BOUDOT
French raider Watch Me caused a 20/1 shock in the mile £500,000 G1 Coronation Stakes for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard and jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot.
The three-year-old daughter of Olympic Glory travelled powerfully into contention and swept past the Aidan O’Brien-trained Even-money favourite Hermosa to record a length and a half-success.
Watch Me is the 12th French-trained winner of the G1 Coronation Stakes and first since Qemah in 2016.
Boudot was registering his second victory at Royal Ascot, having steered Le Brivido to success in the 2017 running of the G3 Jersey Stakes.
Boudot said: “Today’s race went perfectly for Watch Me. She was very unlucky in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.
“I broke well and she settled nicely. I was behind Hermosa travelling very well, very easy, and then she gave me a really nice turn of foot.
“Watch Me did it very easily today. She has a big heart and is very courageous – she’s a very good filly.
“It is a big day for me. It is my first Group One at Royal Ascot. I’m a lucky boy and it is very important to have winners like this – it’s a good week!”
NO EXCUSES FOR HERMOSA
The 1,000 Guineas and Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Hermosa, sent of Evens favourite, came home a length and a half second to 20/1 the French raider Watch Me in the £500,000 G1 Coronation Cup on the fourth day of Royal Ascot.
Her trainer Aidan O’Brien commented on her run after the race.
O’Brien said: “There are no excuses. We will get her back home and see how she is before we decide on any plans for her, including if we try further in distance. Her half-sister got a mile and a half. We are never confident, though always hopeful about these things.”
Ryan Moore, jockey of the Galileo filly, said: “She ran well – she has had a hard couple of races
JUBILOSO: PROMISING PERFORMANCE IN THE CORONATION
Jubiloso (9/2), owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah and trained by Sir Michael Stoute, put in a fine performance to finish third, beaten two and a half lengths by the winner Watch Me, in the Coronation Cup (G1). Previously unbeaten, it was Jubiloso’s first start out of maiden and novice company.
“She probably just lacked a little bit of experience, but we have to very pleased with that and we hope she is going to turn into the filly we hope she will be,” said Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager for Prince Khalid. “She is in the Falmouth, but we will have to see how she is.”
“She has acquitted herself very pleasingly,” added Stoute.
“She gave me a lovely ride, she had her chance and finished off really well,” said jockey James McDonald.
CORONATION STAKES RESULT
Fourth race, 4.20pm: Coronation Stakes (Group 1), 1m round
1 Watch Me (Alexander Tamagni) Francis-Henri Graffard FR 3-9-00 Pierre-Charles Boudot 20/1
2 Hermosa (Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier) Aidan O’Brien IRE 3-9-00 Ryan Moore Evs fav
3 Jubiloso (Khalid Abdullah) Sir Michael Stoute 3-9-00 James McDonald 9/2
9 ran
Time: 1m 39.61s
Distances: 1½, 1
Tote Win: £3.35 Places: £5.15, £1.05, £1.75 Exacta: £82.10
Breeding: b f Olympic Glory (IRE) – Watchful (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Breeder: Mme A Tamagni & Cocheese Bloodstock Anstalt
Francis-Henri Graffard – 1st Royal Ascot winner
Pierre-Charles Boudot – 2nd Royal Ascot winner