10 April 2019
Photo scoopdyga.com
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 Ppetit 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.