Flight Leader battles to Noailles victory in Paris

Three-year-old Frankel colt Flight Leader stepped into Group company on Sunday with a win in the Gr.3 Pris Noailles at ParisLongchamp.

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 17th April 2023 by Sean Cronin:

Flight Leader was last seen graduating in an nine-furlong maiden at Chantilly (October) and put his hat into the ring for Juness Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club back there after battling to a game victory on seasonal return in Sunday's Gr.3 Prix Noailles at ParisLongchamp.

Breaking from the outside stall he found cover off the tempo in fifth after the initial strides. Coaxed along passing the quarter-mile marker, the 19-5 chance came under sterner urging entering the final furlong and was driven out in the latter stages to prevail by a short-neck from Harry Way in brave fashion. In a blanket finish, Fabrice Chappet nominee Fortune was a neck adrift in third.

"When this horse first ran, Andre Fabre had mentioned him as a potentially very good one, but unfortunately he missed out on debut," said Juddmonte's on-course representative Claude Beniada. "He won well second time out over nine furlongs, proving already that he stays, and he should be better on good ground. He will come on for the run and has made a step forward to the [Gr.1] Prix du Jockey Club. Andre Fabre will discuss his programme with Barry Mahon and the [Abdullah] family. There are plenty of opportunities and the trainer knows how to handle these situations, so we have no worries."