Just half an hour after Tantheem (Teofilo) landed the G3 Prix de Meautry, the Darley stallions were once again in charge at Deauville when Shamardal’s four-year-old son Graphite led home Salsabeel (Exceed And Excel) in the G3 Prix Quincey.
Neither Godolphin runners were far from the pace throughout the one-mile contest and while Salsabeel looked to have the race sewn up once entering the final furlong, the Andre Fabre-trained Graphite threw down a strong challenge close to home and just got up to win by a short head.
This was the third career victory for Graphite, who won the G3 Prix la Force at Chantilly last year.
Bred by Haras de Saint Pair, Graphite is out of the Group-placed Linamix mare Fairly Grey, herself a full sister to G1 Prix Ganay winner Fair Mix. Fairly Grey has produced two other Stakes winners to date, in G2 Del Mar Derby and G1 Hollywood Derby second Fairly Ransom and Listed winner Fairly Fair.
Graphite becomes the second Group winner of the week for Shamardal, whose son Emaraaty Ana landed the G2 Gimcrack Stakes at York on Friday.
