Graffard hoping Channel can follow example of Watch Me in Nassau

Francis Graffard is hopeful that French Oaks winner Channel can prove another successful big-race raider for him in the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on Thursday.

The young Chantilly-based trainer struck at Royal Ascot with Watch Me in the Coronation Stakes. She won at the principal expense of dual Guineas winner Hermosa and that rival will also stand in the way of Channel, who is a general 6-1 to strike on the Sussex Downs.

Channel has already earned herself a special place in the eyes of Graffard as she provided him with a first Classic success when victorious by a hard-fought head in the Longines Prix de Diane in mid-June.

“It is fantastic to have a filly like her,” he said. “She is a filly that doesn’t show you too much in the morning. It’s incredible to have surprise like that, you start the season not knowing much about her and then she turns out to be a Classic filly, which is fantastic.

“Over ten furlongs there are not many Group Ones this summer so it was a logical to look to the UK. She has nothing to lose. We have to be seen to be competitive, to show that we are at the top level - and I like to win. She is a Classic winner and there is no point with a filly like her to run in a Group Two.”

Running in the Nassau will mean a marginal drop back in trip for Channel but Graffard believes that may be advantageous to the daughter of Nathaniel.

“I think the ten-furlong trip will suit her better because the last hundred metres in the Diane was hard for her,” he said. “I think she needs to improve on her Diane performance to win the Nassau but that’s entirely possible. She’s very easy to ride, a handy, manageable filly and well-balanced so I don’t see why she wouldn’t handle the undulations of Goodwood.

“She is a filly that jumps out of the stalls well so she can take a good position, Pierre-Charles [Boudot] knows her very well and he will ride her to suit the rhythm of the race. She will run well. If that’s good enough to win or not we will have to see.”

He added: “Obviously it is going to be tougher taking on the older fillies too, but I think the horses towards the fore could be the three-year-olds. Channel is game and very tough but will never win by ten lengths. It’s Group One racing so it’s not easy but I am very pleased to be bringing her over to Goodwood on Thursday.

“Pierre-Charles was delighted with her last piece of work. Physically she has done really well since the Diane. She strengthened up and looks very well within herself. We have had the time in between so all the lights are on green”.

Looking further ahead, he said: “The Prix de l’Opera can be an option for her in ParisLongchamp this autumn. It is very hard to prep for the Opera, so we will take the Nassau and see how things go from there.

“I feel no pressure at all, I know that everybody has a certain level of expectation, but it’s exciting. It can get stressful, but when you are 20-1 [as Watch Me was at Ascot] you have nothing to lose. Now it’s different, like with Watch Me she is coming from a Group One win. The whole experience is also very exciting for the owners.”

Meanwhile, Watch Me is on course to contest the Prix Jacques Le Marois’ in Deauville on August 11.

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