Wooton wins Prix de Fontainebleau to stay perfect

Wooton, now unbeaten after three starts, beat Olmedo by a head Sunday at Longchamp in the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau, a battle between perhaps the two best 3-year-old milers in France.

The Fontainebleau was contested over the sort of heavy going that can yield unsatisfying results, but there appears to be nothing phony about either Wooton or Olmedo. The time for the one-turn mile was a slow 1:47.33, but both colts appeared to finish with verve while well clear of three others in this prep for the French 2000 Guineas.

Olmedo has only a maiden win from four starts but confirmed his talent with a second-place finish to Happily last fall in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, his most recent race. Wooton had more to prove Sunday in his 3-year-old debut after dominating inferior competition in a pair of starts last year at 2, but Wooton appears ready for the big stage.

Henri-Alex Pantall has trained Wooton from the start, but the colt – by Wooton Bassett and out of American Nizzy, by American Post – was privately purchased by Godolphin following a six-length maiden win last August at Deauville. On Sunday, he took the early lead under Mickael Barzalona and faced his first real challenge when Olmedo came up the inside about a quarter-mile out, perhaps even poking his nose in front. But Wooton battled on and was going away ever so slightly at the end of a stirring finish.

In other Longchamp action Sunday, Pharrell came out on top of a three-horse photo over Alhadab and Flag of Honour in the Group 3 Prix Noailles, another 3-year-old race, this one over 1 5/16 miles. This was a career-best showing from Pharrell, who was ridden by Jean-Bernard Eyquem for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. Flag of Honour, with Ryan Moore riding for trainer Aidan O’Brien, was the narrow favorite over Gyllen, who finished fourth.

In the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte for 3-year-old fillies over one mile, it was another success for Godolphin as the Andre Fabre-trained Musis Amica beat Sea Prose by 1 1/2 lengths. Fabre also sent out the favorite, Wind Chimes, who struggled home fifth and could be kept to shorter distances, her trainer said afterward.