16 April 2023
Photo scoopdyga.com
Sunday, April 16, 2023, ParisLongchamp racecourse (Paris) - Four of the seven Prix Noailles (Gr3) contenders were offered at less than 4/1, and they shared the top positions. On a truly yielding turf, the leader Harry Way (Galiway) held on for a long time and even managed to regain the lead over his first assailant, Rubis Vendôme (Galiway), accompanied by the Irish horse Londoner (Saxon Warrior). However, in the last hundred yards, he couldn't resist Flight Leader (Frankel), who showed great determination to win by a short neck ahead of Harry Way, himself a neck ahead of the favourite Fortune (De Treville), who came too far to win this comeback race despite a good run in the straight. Londoner finished fourth less than a length away, with Rubis Vendôme a nose behind.
Flight Leader was very much sought after in his debut in the Prix de Fontenoy last September but had finished ninth that day. He took advantage of the extra furlong from his debut at ParisLongchamp to win after a second-line run over 9 furlongs five weeks later.
Principal Role (Empire Maker) is the winning dam. She's a Group 1-placed and triple Listed Race winner in England. Flight Leader is the sixth foal out of his dam. His first foal, the gelding Examiner (Distorted Humor), has won several races in the USA. The same is true for Right Flank (War Front), a winning colt in the United Arab Emirates, and Lory (Uncle Mo), a winner in the USA. This is a very successful Juddmonte bloodline in the USA, but also in France in the past, as the third dam Intermission (Stage Door Johnny) produced the winner of the 1987 Prix Maurice de Gheest, Interval (Habitat).
In foal to Kingman, Principal Role was withdrawn from last year's breeding sales at Tattersalls. A 2-year-old by Cracksman was born in 2021.
Flight Leader is entered in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1) and the Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1).