by Mike Curry

Naaqoos finished fifth in his first career graded stakes start, but on Sunday at Longchamp the Oasis Dream (GB) colt more than made amends with a neck victory in the $483,210 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-Grand Criterium (Fr-G1) for two-year-olds.

Naaqoos, who finished fifth in the Darley Prix Morny (Fr-G1) on August 24 at Deauville, improved to three wins in four starts and became the fourth individual Group 1 winner this year for trainer Freddie Head.

After breaking well and setting the pace under Davy Bonilla in the 1,400-meter (6.96-furlong) race, Naaqoos held off a determined rally from runner-up Milanais to prevail in 1:18.40 on good to soft turf.

Head, who trains Naaqoos for owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum, said he believes the colt is a legitimate contender for the 2009 Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1).

"I think he's a great horse, a real champion because he's a hell of a mover and he's very good in his head, very well balanced,” Head told England’s Press Association.

“He's got everything to be a good horse. He's an extraordinary mover and a very good intelligent horse, very clever. We'll talk with Sheikh Hamdan about which Two Thousand Guineas to go for, but he could be the right horse for Newmarket."

A half brother to Group 3 winner Barastraight (GB), Naaqoos is out of the Machiavellian mare Straight Lass.

Head, who also won the Qatar Prix de l’Abbaye (Fr-G1) later on the card with Marchand d’Or, also trains 2008 Group 1 winners Goldikova and Tamayuz.

Naaqoos handed previously unbeaten Mastercraftsman his first career defeat, as the multiple Group 1 winner and even-money favorite finished a nonthreatening fourth for trainer Aidan O’Brien.

"It was probably one race too many for him as he had a hard effort on soft ground," O’Brien told England’s Press Association.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor