G3 Prix Noailles

With luminaries such as Bering, Helissio and Calandagan on the roll of honour, the Mauricio Delcher Sanchez-conditioned stakes debutant Pearled Majesty (Persian King) joined exalted company with a pillar-to-post triumph in Sunday's 10 1/2-furlong G3 Prix Noailles at ParisLongchamp. Quickly away from the outside stall for an early advantage, the 31-5 chance was committed by Christophe Soumillon once into the straight and maintained a relentless tempo under continued rousting to easily hold the closing pack--headed by Space Waltz (American Pharoah)--by 1 1/4 lengths. Pearled Majesty took three goes to shed...

Rounding off a spectacular black-type four-timer on ParisLongchamp's Sunday card including all the group-race Classic trials, Mickael Barzalona steered the Wertheimers' Uther (GB) (Camelot {GB}) to a straightforward success in the G3 Prix Noailles. Settled with one behind early, the 5-1 shot who was runner-up in Saint-Cloud's Listed Prix Francois Mathet last month powered to the front 300 metres from the finish en route to a 1 3/4-length success from the operation's other runner and 19-10 favourite Nitoi (Siyouni {Fr}). "He was fit, but will progress from here as he's...

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 15:50, PRIX DE FONTAINEBLEAU-G3, €80,000, 3yo, c/g, 8fT Field: Batal Youmzain (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), Ridari (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), Sahlan (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Misunderstood (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), Heybetli (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), Madero (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Darius Cen (Fr) (Persian King {Ire}). TDN Verdict: France's premier Poule d'Essai des Poulains trial sees the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere third Misunderstood tackle some up-and-comers including the Listed Prix Omnium II winner Darius Cen and the maiden winners Sahlan and Ridari. Sahlan, who represents the all-conquering...

Francis-Henri Graffard trainee Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}--Calayana {Fr}, by Sinndar {Ire}) finished 3-4-of-a-length behind Bright Picture (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) in Saint-Cloud's Listed Prix Francois Mathet last month and exacted revenge on that rival in Sunday's G3 Prix Noailles at ParisLongchamp. The Aga Khan's homebred gelding was out twice as a 2-year-old, following up an Aug. 12 debut third at Deauville with a facile 10-length tally at Chantilly in October. Calandagan tucked in at the tail of the field after breaking from the outside stall and was urged closer once into...

Juddmonte's 3-year-old colt Flight Leader (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Principal Role, by Empire Maker) was last seen graduating in an Oct. 12 nine-furlong maiden at Chantilly and put his hat into the ring for June's G1 Prix du Jockey Club back there after battling to a game victory on seasonal return in Sunday's G3 Prix Noailles at ParisLongchamp. The eventual winner, who had earlier posted a Sept. 1 debut ninth behind the 'TDN Rising Star' performance of Padishakh (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) at this venue, broke from the outside stall and found...