Melioraorig Edit

Starspangled’s Meliora repeats black-type win

Classy mare Meliora (5m Starspangledbanner-Messelina, by Noverre) won the Listed Grand Prix de Fontainebleau for a second consecutive year on Friday. Trained by Nicolas Clement for Robert G Schaedle III, the Starspangledbanner mare was two and a half lengths clear of her field when comprehensively winning the 10-furlong event. “The style of that victory is one of a real mare of Group class,” said winning rider Stephane Pasquier. “She was calm and was able to wind up at the right moment before finishing strongly. She had already shown us that she had the quality to run at Group level when second in a Group 3 in Milan.”

Bred by Litex Commerce in Ireland, Meliora was bought by Tina Rau for 110,000 euros on behalf of current connections at Arqana in December.