Noailles: Junko stays on

April 17, 2022, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - He beat Prix de Fontainebleau (Gr3) winner Welwal over Chantilly's all-weather last time out, for his second run after his winning debut in February, and the gelded Junko (Intello) confirmed that he was up to something in the Prix Noailles (Gr3) over 2,100m/10.5f. The Wertheimer & Frère homebred had to fight off a pugnacious, front-running Maximus (Intello), who finally lost by a neck on the wire. Less than a length behind them, Garachico (Ribchester) beat Master Gatsby (The Grey Gatsby) by a short head for third place… It was a heated finish indeed!

As a gelding, since September 2021, Junko won't be able to run in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, Gr1), the usual aim of the Prix Noailles best runners.

The Wertheimer & frère, who paid $2,350,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Breeding sale in 2016 for his dam, the US Group 3-placed Lady Zuzu (Dynaformer) in foal to War Front, are used to international routes and will probably find a good fit for the gutsy youngster.

Sinc her purchase, Lady Zuzu gave 4 foals, and all won, except the Frankel 2-year-old colt who's now in training with Carlos Laffon-Parias. The War Front filly she gave after her sale won one race and was sold by Wertheimer & Frère, and then by Haras d’Étreham, last December at Tattersalls, in foal to Persian King, for £115,000 to Chantilly Bloodstock Agency (Gérard Larrieu).