Meleagros Annexes G3 Prix D'Hedouville

Second to Spiritjim (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}) in this 12 months ago, Meleagros returned to go one better and register a first pattern-race success to reward the patience of his trainer Alain Couetil. Following his effort here last term, the bay had gone on to be fifth in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in June–a year on from filling fourth spot behind Novellist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) in the same race. Winning the Listed Grand Prix de Nantes in October and Mar. 28 Listed Prix de la Porte de Madrid at Saint-Cloud over this trip on his last two outings, he earned the reward for his consistency with a career-best performance on ground he relishes. Settled with two behind early, Meleagros made ground easily on the outer leaving the back straight and rolled by Cocktail Queen before the quarter pole and into the clear. Last year's G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris winner Manatee (GB)(Monsun {Ger}) made late progress, looking in need of the outing.

Wednesday, Longchamp, France
PRIX D'HEDOUVILLE-G3, €80,000, LCP, 5-6, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:41.77, vsf. 
1–@MELEAGROS (IRE), 123, h, 6, by King's Best 
     1st Dam: Viola Royale (Ire) (SP-Ire), by Royal Academy
     2nd Dam: Wood Violet, by Riverman
     3rd Dam: Honor Tricks, by Bold Bidder
(14,500gns wnlg '09 TATDEC). O-Denis Gorse; 
B-Oak Hill Stud (Ire); T-Alain Couetil; J-Adrien 
Fouassier. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 22 starts, 
7 wins, 11 places, €249,480. *1/2 to St Andrews 
(Ire) (Celtic Swing {GB}), SW & GSP-Eng, $249,714. 
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk
Nick Rating: B. 
2–Teletext, 123, c, 4, Empire Maker–Conference Call 
(GB), by Anabaa. O-Prince Faisal bin Khaled; 
B-Juddmonte Farms Inc (KY); T-Pascal Bary. 
€16,000. 
3–Cocktail Queen (Ire), 127, m, 5, Motivator (GB)– 
Premier Prize (GB), by Selkirk. O-J C Smith; 
B-Littleton Stud (Ire); T-Myriam Bollack-Badel. 
€12,000. 
Margins: 2HF, HF, HF. Odds: 3.20, 2.70, 6.00. 
Also Ran: Manatee (GB), Spirit's Revench (Fr), Arkaitz (Spa), Donn Halling (Ire). Scratched: Meadow Creek (GB). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.