6 Abr. FR. Prix Noailles. G2. Longchamp. 2.100 mts. Turf. 130.000 €
1.- FULL OF GOLD (T.Gillet)
2.- COURT CANIBAL (O.Peslier)
3.- BLUE BRESIL (O.Trigodet)


THE bare result of the Group 2 Prix Noailles at Longchamp yesterday shows that 4-5 favourite Full Of Gold beat Court Canibal by a head, with provincially trained Blue Bresil a close-up third in front of Michael Tabor's Mount Helicon, writes Desmond Stoneham.
But the bare result does not give the winner the credit he deserves, as he was meeting five much fitter horses on very heavy ground.
This was a good beginning to Full Of Gold's Classic campaign after his victory in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud last November. Ridden by Thierry Gillet, the son of Gold Away raced in third for much of the contest before moving through to throw down a challenge.
Inside the final furlong, he kept on pulling out just a little bit more and finally won with a little in hand. Trainer Criquette Head-Maarek was more than happy with the performance.
After phoning her father Alec, who owns the colt, in the Bahamas, she said: "We had a perfect race for a seasonal debut and Full Of Gold was certainly not fully wound up. The plan now is to run him in the Prix Hocquart and then the Prix du Jockey-Club. The colt brings back memories of Bering."
In 1986, Bering won the Noailles and the Prix du Jockey-Club in the scarlet colours of Alec Head before finishing runner-up to Dancing Brave in the Arc.
Court Canibal is also going the right way. He looked the likely winner 50 yards out but was just run out of it in the final few strides.
"We were certainly beaten by a very good horse," said trainer Mikel Delzangles.