By Sean Cronin
Francis Graffard trainee Melo Melo (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}–You Look So Good {GB}, by Excellent Art {GB}) had raced exclusively in stakes company in each of her six latest starts, bagging a career best in ParisLongchamp's Listed Prix Gold River in May when last seen, and continued on a rapid upward trajectory with a game success in Saturday's G2 Prix de Pomone at Deauville.
The 47-10 chance employed patient tactics and tracked the leaders in a midfield sixth through halfway in this staging post for the G1 Prix de Royallieu on Arc weekend and inched closer rounding the home turn. Coming under pressure at the top of the straight, she gained an edge approaching the final furlong and was driven out to bravely withstand the late lunge of stablemate Baiykara (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) by a short-neck in a thrilling finish. Juddmonte's G3 Prix de Royaumont victrix Ottery (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) did not enjoy the clearest of passages inside the final quarter-mile and ran on well to finish 3/4-of-a-length down in third.
“She was ready to run again and delivered nicely for a career high,” commented Graffard. “She likes it soft, she had the right conditions today and it was the perfect ride from Mickael [Barzalona]. With this performance, she has earned the right to try her chance in the [Sept. 30 G1] Prix Vermeille [at ParisLongchamp].”
Pedigree Notes
Melo Melo becomes the 18th pattern-race winner for her sire and is one of two produced by You Look So Good (GB) (Excellent Art {GB}), whose first is the G3 Curragh S. and GIII G3 Senorita S. victrix Treasuring (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}). Her dam is a full-sister to G2 Rockfel S. placegetter Gray Pearl (GB) and a half to G2 Goldene Peitsche and G3 Lotto Trophy victor Electric Beat (GB) (Shinko Forest {Ire}) and Listed Washington Singer S. third Blakey's Boy (GB) (Hawk Wing). You Look So Good is a granddaughter of Rossaldene (GB) (Mummy's Pet {Ire}), herself the dam of dual stakes-winning G1 Irish 2000 Guineas third Cape Town (Ire) (Desert Style {Ire}) as well as being the ancestress of G1 Queen Anne S. and G1 Prix de la Foret-winning sire Paco Boy (Ire) (Desert Style {Ire}). The February-foaled grey is kin to the unraced 2-year-old filly Sovereign Girl (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire), a yearling colt by Wootton Bassett (GB) and and a weanling colt foal Too Darn Hot (GB).
@mickaelbarzalon enchaîne à Deauville. Après le Prix du Calvados, il enlève le Prix de Pomone (Gr.2) avec (@GraffardRacing).
Coup double pour Francis-Henri Graffard dans ce Groupe 2 avec deuxième pic.twitter.com/BNOSTPwyFz
— Equidia (@equidia) August 19, 2023
Saturday, Deauville, France
PRIX DE POMONE-G2, €130,000, Deauville, 8-19, 3yo/up, f/m, 12 1/2fT, 2:48.22, hy.
1–MELO MELO (GB), 130, f, 4, by Gleneagles (Ire)
1st Dam: You Look So Good (GB), by Excellent Art (GB)
2nd Dam: Divine Grace (Ire), by Definite Article (GB)
3rd Dam: Grey Patience (Ire), by Common Grounds (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN. (110,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA). O-Ecurie Ama.Zingteam; B-The Pocock Family (GB); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Mickael Barzalona. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 10-4-2-0, €158,450. *1/2 to Treasuring (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}), GSW-Ire & SP-US, $164,287. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Baiykara (Fr), 130, f, 4, Zarak (Fr)–Balankiyla (Fr), by Montjeu (Ire). O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €28,600.
3–Ottery (GB), 121, f, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Longina (Ger), by Monsun (Ger). (800,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Juddmonte; B-Al Shahania Stud (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €13,650.
Margins: SNK, 3/4, HF. Odds: 4.70, 6.20, 2.20.
Also Ran: Golden Lyra (Ire), La Mehana (Fr), Heartache Tonight (Fr), Manisha (Ire), Alpenblume (GB), Winema (Fr), Wonderful Times (Ire). Scratched: Voodoo Queen (GB). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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