European Road: Juncture outclasses the boys in Patton Stakes

Mar 04, 2022 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Juddmonte’s homebred filly Juncture was dispatched as the odds-on favorite in her comeback in Friday’s Patton S. at Dundalk, and the gray duly outclassed the boys in a romp. 

Trained by Ger Lyons and ridden by Colin Keane, Juncture earned 20 points on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, but her classic ambitions lie closer to home. The British-bred daughter of Dark Angel is engaged in Newmarket’s 1000 Guineas (G1) on May 1 as well as the Irish 1000 Guineas (G1) on May 22. 

Out of the Frankel mare Occurrence, Juncture left no doubt about her proficiency over the mile here, despite coming off a layoff. She was last seen finishing second in the July 22 Silver Flash S. (G3) at Leopardstown, but returned ready to roll.

Juncture settled near the back early as John the Baptist showed the way, tracked by Sister Bridget. The only Triple Crown nominee in the field, Absolute Ruler, raced in striking range on the outside, then failed to pick up. 
Meanwhile, Juncture was cruising into contention widest of all as they fanned out in the stretch. Driving clear in a few strides, she opened up by six lengths, in hand, in a final time of 1:38.56 on the Polytrack.
Morning Soldier, who had been midpack early, stayed on to take second by a neck from Sister Bridget. In Ecstasy ran fairly evenly in fourth. Their efforts were worth points on the 8-4-2 scale, respectively. Angel Girl, Absolute Ruler, Mercurial, and John the Baptist rounded out the order under the wire.
Juncture has never finished out of the top two in her four starts. After a second on debut at Naas, she broke her maiden convincingly at Leopardstown. Juncture handled the step to Group company when runner-up in the Silver Flash, chasing home the more experienced frontrunner, Agartha. The Silver Flash form was boosted by Agartha, who went on to win the Debutante (G2) and finished second in the Moyglare Stud (G1). 
The Moyglare was going to be a goal for Juncture, until she was sidelined. Assistant trainer Shane Lyons told irishracing.com that the team was expecting a big run from her here:
“She has been back in early and has been working well. This was the perfect starting point for her as she was fit, so we weren’t surprised she did that.
“We’ll get her home and we’ll talk to the Abdullah family but she’ll go for a Guineas trial now. She has always been held in the highest esteem by us.”
Juncture descends from one of Juddmonte’s elite families. Her dam is an unraced half-sister to Group 1-winning highweight Promising Lead. Juncture’s second dam is a full sister to blue hen Hasili, who produced such stars as Dansili, Banks Hill, Intercontinental, Heat Haze, and Champs Elysees. 

The European Road concludes with the Mar. 31 Cardinal Conditions race at Chelmsford, which will decide final leadership with points on the 30-12-6-3 scale to the top four finishers. 

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