Coronation Stakes : A glorious revenge for Watch Me
French filly Watch Me (Olympic Glory) won Friday’s Coronation Stakes (Gr1) at the Royal Ascot, the 3yo fillies mile championship. Watch Me had been very unlucky in the French 1,000 Guineas won by Castle Lady (unplaced Friday at Ascot). This time, ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot, the Francis Graffard-trained bay went ahead early in the final straight and held the Irish favourite Hermosa (Galileo), winner of the Newmarket and Curragh 1,000 Guineas.
Bred in Normandy at Haras de Saint-Julien by Antoinette Tamagni and Cocheese Bloodstock, Watch Me was unsold for €30,000 at the Arqana yearlings sales. She is racing for owners Alexander Tamagni and Regula Vannod.
Third for her debut at Saint-Cloud in October, Watch Me went on to open her account against the colts in the Listed Critérium du Languedoc (L) in Toulouse. Winner of the Prix Imprudence (Gr3) for her seasonal return at Maisons-Laffitte, she had to settle for sixth place in The Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.
She is by Olympic Glory, an Al Shaqab Racing sire based in France at the Haras de Bouquetot. Her dam Watchful (Galileo), winner of two races in England, over 11 and 12 furlongs for trainer Luca Cumani. She was then bought in foal with Watch Me in December 2015 at Deauville for €22,000 by Cocheese Bloodstock. She herself originates from an Aga Khan family.
French fillies have been relatively successful in the Coronation Stakes, since there have been eight French-trained winners in the race since 1989.