New stakes winner for Mehmas as Imperial Me Cen headlines across-the-card treble

It was a brilliant day for Mehmas on Wednesday as the Listed victory of Imperial Me Cen led the way among an across-the-card treble.

Yeguada Centurion's homebred Imperial Me Cen had impressed for Henri-Francois Devin when taking his debut at Deauville in April and bounced back to winning ways in authoritative style in the Listed Prix des Reves d'Or at Vichy on Wednesday, storming clear for a near three-length success.

"He ran very well, I'm delighted for his owner," said Henri Devin. "He made a very good impression on his debut, and it's true that at Chantilly, last time, he had to give up four kilos to the winner... It was perhaps a little too much for him, especially in April. I entered him this morning in the Prix du Bois (Gr3), and it's the logical next step."

The 41st stakes winner for Mehmas, Imperial Me Cen is a half-brother to Group 3 winner Queen Of Bermuda as well as the stakes-placed Crazyland (Kodiac). They are out of the Listed-placed Haafhd mare Imperalistic Diva.

His win came not long before the winning York double of Rare Change and Ballistic Diva.

Tough three-year-old Rare Change, bred by Airlie Stud and Sonia Rogers, came out on top in a tight finish to the 7f handicap to bag his second win in succession for Richard Hughes.

Meanwhile, Ballistic Diva overcame distinct greenness to make a winning debut in the 5f maiden - traditionally a strong event. Trained by Richard Hannon for Zhang Yuesheng, Ballistic Diva swept from the back of the field to win smartly from Utmost Respect. The colt was bred by Dr Jim Moore out of the Night Of Thunder mare Taawfan.

On what a particularly good day for Tally-Ho stallions, Starman also fired in another winner courtesy of the Tally-Ho breezer Gold Digger at Yarmouth while Cotai Glory was represented by Bath two-year-old winner Buenos Dias, a homebred for Amo Racing.