10 Aug 2019

Watch Me seeks more Group 1 glory in France

Watch Me and her delighted connections after her win in the Coronation Stakes. Pic Steven Cargill / Racingfotos.com

Watch Me, who provided France with a slice of QIPCO British Champions glory at Royal Ascot, seeks to follow up in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Sunday.

The Francis Graffard-trained filly was sent off at 20/1 for the Coronation Stakes in June but won in fluent style and has since pleased her trainer.

“Everything is good and I’m very pleased with the condition of the filly,” said Graffard.

“We have had plenty of time since Ascot. She is taking on the older horses and the colts, so it should be an interesting race.

“My job is done and now it is up to the filly.”

The older opposition includes Ken Condon’s Romanised, who won the Irish 2000 Guineas and whose efforts this term include solid runs in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot.

“He ran a good race in the Lockinge and ran well in Ascot, where he was maybe a bit unlucky,” Condon said. “He didn’t get the splits when he needed them and he might have finished a little bit closer but for that.

“He backed that up with a very good performance over a fast-run seven furlongs at the Curragh [last time]. He won well in a good time that day and we’ve been very happy with him since.

“Hopefully there’ll be plenty of pace on, as I think it’s pretty obvious by now Romanised is at his best when there’s a good gallop.”

Other runners include last year’s French Derby hero Study Of Man and Charlie Appleby’s Line Of Duty.