Close second for Fleur d’Iris in G2 Prix du Calvados

Fleur d’Iris backed up the promise of a recent victory as she went down by a short-neck to the unbeaten Accakaba in the G2 Prix du Calvados over seven furlongs at Deauville, France, on Saturday, 21 August.

The Shamardal juvenile, a battling winner over the same distance at Compiegne on Tuesday, 27 July, led Accakaba down the centre of the course as the duo raced away from their three rivals.

Fleur d’Iris found herself third overall as the field converged approaching the final quarter-mile and stayed on well to hold every chance half a furlong from home. The Andre Fabre-trained filly continued to rally for Mickael Barzalona and pressed Accakaba all the way to the line, with the front two pulling a length clear of the pace-setting Oscula.

Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin said: “We are absolutely delighted with Fleur d’Iris, who is improving all the time. We haven’t any immediate plans for her, but she is an exciting filly who looks to have the potential of becoming a very good three-year-old.”