By Sean Cronin
Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's relatively unexposed 3-year-old colt Nitoi (Siyouni {Fr}) had just two prior outings under his belt heading into Friday's Listed Prix de Suresnes and called upon abundant reserves to claim a hard-fought career high in the 10-furlong Prix du Jockey Club trial.
The Andre Fabre-trained homebred half-brother to G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern and G1 Hong Kong Vase hero Junko (GB) (Intello {Ger}) broke through in his Sept. 16 debut at this venue and ran second in ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix Noailles on black-type debut and seasonal return last time. Breaking on the lead before accepting a tow in second after the early shuffling, the 9-5 second favourite loomed large going well approaching the quarter-mile marker and came under a forceful drive once hitting the front with 300 metres remaining to stave off the persistent threat of the hitherto undefeated Leffard (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) by a short-neck in game fashion. Juddmonte's G3 Prix La Force placegetter New Ground (GB) (New Bay {GB}) finished 3/4-of-a-length adrift in third.
Nitoi is the fifth of six foals and fourth scorer produced by GIII Regret Stakes and GIII Edgewood Stakes placegetter Lady Zuzu (Dynaformer), herself a half-sister to multiple Grade III-winning GI Turf Classic and GI Manhattan Handicap second Optimizer (English Channel). The February-foaled bay is a half-brother to the aforementioned Junko and the hitherto unraced 2-year-old colt Zutzut (Uncle Mo). Lady Zuzu was bred to Justify last year.
Tenacious!
Andre Fabre's Nitoi – who has an entry in the Prix du Jockey Club – battles to a hard-fought success in the Listed Prix de Suresnes at @fgchantilly… pic.twitter.com/uj42PlWs42
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 2, 2025
Friday, Chantilly, France
PRIX DE SURESNES-Listed, €55,000, Chantilly, 5-2, 3yo, 10fT, 2:02.25, g/s.
1–NITOI, 128, c, 3, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Lady Zuzu (MGSP-US, $112,615), by Dynaformer
2nd Dam: Indy Pick, by A.P. Indy
3rd Dam: Fantastic Find, by Mr. Prospector
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (KY); T-Andre Fabre; J-Maxime Guyon. €27,500. Lifetime Record: GSP-Fr, 3-2-1-0, €58,500. *1/2 to Junko (GB) (Intello {Ger}), G1SW-Ger & HK, MGSW & G1SP-Fr, $2,430,857.
2–Leffard (Fr), 128, c, 3, Le Havre (Ire)–Let's Misbehave (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (€150,000 Ylg '23 ARQAUG). O-Gerard Augustin-Normand & Ecurie Antonio Caro; B-Ecurie Haras du Cadran & Ecurie Melanie (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €11,000.
3–New Ground (GB), 128, c, 3, New Bay (GB)–Gaining (GB), by American Post. O/B-Juddmonte Farms Inc (GB); T-Henri-Francois Devin. €8,250.
Margins: SNK, 3/4, SNK. Odds: 1.80, 6.10, 7.30.
Also Ran: Azimpour (Ire), Juwelier (Ire), Nizam (Fr), Chaumiere De Pre (Fr).
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