Johnny Barnes signed off for the season with a performance that has “laid gold-plated foundation stones” for his three-year-old career after finishing runner-up in his first group one race in Paris yesterday.

Owned by Bermuda Thoroughbred Racing (BTR), Johnny Barnes, who went off at odds of 8-1, was beaten by two lengths into second by Vert Du Grace, a 3-1 second favourite, at the Critérium International at Saint-Cloud, the highest level of thoroughbred stakes racing.

Considering Johnny Barnes was competing in only his fourth race — his first outside Britain and first tackling a mile after previously being tried over seven furlongs — in a field of nine high-quality two-year-olds, it was a showing full of promise of things to come.

“What a really exciting performance,” said Simon Scupham, a local racing enthusiast, who teamed up with Highclere, the leading horse syndicate management firm in Britain, to establish BTR.

“For Johnny Barnes to be group one-placed as a two-year-old in only his fourth run after previously winning a four-runner Conditions Stakes race at Leicester is a meteoric improvement.

“This now sets up his three-year-old career with gold-plated foundation stones.” The bay colt, named after the Island’s legendary well-wisher, also drew praise from William Buick, his jockey, who rode him to victory on his debut at Yarmouth in August and the Wymeswold Conditions Stakes at Leicester this month.

“After the race, William said to me that the winner [trained by Roger Varian] had simply handled the ground better,” Scupham, the chairman of BTR, said.

“He then said with a wry smile on his face, ‘You have plenty to look forward to next year with him’.”

Johnny Barnes made a slow start after dwelling slightly in his third stall, finding himself at the back of the field in soft conditions that were not to his liking. Buick allowed the bay colt to pull for his head before settling him at the front of the pack in second place just off the inside rail as they swung into the home straight.

A furlong out, with the field having tracked across to the seemingly favoured stands rail on the V-shaped mile circuit and Johnny Barnes three off the rail, it looked as if it was going to be a close finish. But Vert Du Grace soon surged past him on his outside in ground that appeared to suit him far more.

“Johnny Barnes used up a lot of unnecessary energy at the start of the race in ground that was very sticky, but was determined not to be swallowed up once the winner had got ahead and ran on to keep second,” Scupham added. Also racing yesterday was Horseshoe Bay, who is part of the same BTR syndicate as Johnny Barnes, making his debut on the all-weather surface track in the 1.50 at Lingfield, in Surrey.

The colt, trained by Sir Michael Stoute and ridden by Shane Kelly, delivered an encouraging performance in the seven-furlong race and was beaten by only 1¾ lengths into fourth.

Horseshoe Bay, who went off at 5-1, was given a “hands and heels ride” in his first outing by Kelly, who was impressed with the way he handled the track, particularly the tight corners that can pose problems for a big horse. The race was won by Rattling Jewell, a 25-1 outsider, trained by Andrew Balding.