Watch Me still needs to do a little more

THE big summer meeting at Deauville started at the end of last week and the first few group races and listed races have been run.

The sole Group 1 – the Prix Rothschild for fillies and mares at 1600m (one mile) – went to the odds-on Watch Me, who looks as good as ever, even though she ran a couple of pounds below her 115 peak in beating Half Light (111) and Know It All (109) fairly narrowly.

There were Group 3 wins for the two-year-olds See The Rose (Prix Six Perfections, 99 rating) and Cairn Gorm (Prix de Cabourg, 98), the latter race weakened by Mighty Gurkha and Axdavali blowing their chances at the start. The three-year-old filly Raabihah also scored a Group 3 (Prix de Psyche, 108 including sectional upgrade) when facing a fairly easy task based on her close fourth in a decent Prix de Diane the time before and she won as she was entitled to.

Well Of Wisdom landed a messy listed race in which less than two lengths covered all six runners and the finishing speed was as high as 110%.

He has a rating of 105 now but don’t be surprised if this form proves unreliable.

Saratoga

It remains to be seen just how much bearing the Grade 1s at Saratoga in early-August have on the Breeders’ Cup when it comes to be run but the Whitney Stakes on Saturday had some quality if not much quantity and went to Improbable (120 rating).

It might have been different, however, had Tom’s d’Etat (119 before this) not stumbled leaving the gate before finishing third.

The Personal Ensign Stakes was up to scratch in terms of the first two home, Vexatious (115) just edging out last year’s Midnight Bisou (119), the latter conceding her 4l b.

The other Saratoga race of consequence last Saturday was the seven-furlong Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes won by Echo Town, who was stepping up quite a bit on previous form in returning a 119 rating.