Excellent second for Half Light in G1 Prix Rothschild

Half Light continued her superb season when going down by three-quarters of a length to Watch Me in the G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville, France, on Sunday, 2 August.

The Shamardal filly brought a progressive profile into the mile highlight, having won all three of her most recent starts for trainer Henri-Alex Pantall including a game display in the G3 Hamburger Stutenmeile in Germany on Sunday, 12 July.

Half Light raced in fourth under Mickael Barzalona as Summer Romance (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) led the six-strong field at a good pace. Summer Romance was headed entering the final quarter-mile as Half Light, Know It All and Watch Me all quickened to dispute the running a furlong and a half out.

The trio forged clear inside the final furlong, with Half Light continuing to hold every chance until Watch Me asserted in the dying strides. The Godolphin four-year-old rallied bravely to edge out Know It All for second on the line.

Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin said: “Half Light produced another fantastic performance and we are thrilled with her. She never runs a bad race and it was excellent work by her trainer to bring her back from Germany and get her fresh and ready for this.

“We will see how she comes out of today before deciding where we go from here, but everything she has done so far has been brilliant. She is by Shamardal and from the family of Galileo and Sea The Stars, so she has really exciting breeding potential for Godolphin.”