The European turf season commenced at Saint Cloud on Saturday and Join Up kicked off the juvenile division with a one length victory in the Prix de la Marche (900m).

Join Up (2c Palace Episode – Country Jane by Country Reel) was ridden by Christophe Lemaire for owner-breeder and trainer Mathieu Boutin.  He defeated Amandichope (Soave) and Marlinda (Linda´s Lad).

He is the first foal for Country Jane, a daughter of Grioun (Kaldoun) who won stakes races at Nantes, Châteaubriant and Angers.

Join Up is from the second crop of Palace Episode who stands at Haras du Logis Saint – Germain in Normandy.  He was a Group 1 winner of the 2005 Racing Post Trophy and was later transferred to the USA where he won at Saratoga and was Group 2 placed in the Kelso Hcp at Belmont.

Palace Episode (Machiavellian) had one winner from just 6 starters in his first crop in France last year.  That winner – Ponthieu – was successful in the French provinces at Saint-Malo, Dieppe and Aix les Bains.

– Karl Patterson

JOIN UP
First juvenile winner of the year in Europe