French Derby Quest Begins for Super Celebre

Ecurie Wildenstein's Super Celebre, making his career stakes debut, opened the classic French racing season with a powerful win in Sunday's Group II Prix Noailles for 3-year-olds at Longchamp.

Held up near the rear of the eight-horse field with jockey Dominique Boeuf, the bay son of Peintre Celebre took the lead one furlong from the wire and won handily by 2 1/2 lengths over Coroner. Jipapibaquigrafo finished a nose behind Coroner in third. Super Celebre's time was 2:19.90 for the about 1 3/8 miles on a course rated as good to soft.

Elie Lellouche trains Super Celebre, who is expected to stay on course for the French Derby.