The Poule d’Essai des Poulains and Poule d’Essai des Pouliches – or French 2000 and 1000 Guineas – are two of the most competitive international races in the calendar. Whist the two do not only go some way to forming future races such as the St James’s Palace Stakes, Coronation Stakes, Prix Du Jockey Club and Prix De Diane, this year’s renewals also give us a chance to see the Newmarket 2000 and 1000 Guineas winners – Poetic Flare and Mother Earth – back in action. In anticipation of Sunday’s races, we have produced two in-depth previews, which come alongside an exclusive SBK offer that provides new customers with a risk-free £20 bet.
Poule d’Essai des Poulains – (French 2000 Guineas)
Poetic Flare is just 9/4 to supplement his 2000 Guineas success in Sunday’s Poule d’Essai des Poulains. Jim Bolger’s colt showed great tenacity to see off the challenge of Master Of The Seas there, albeit with the front three horses drawn in 4, 2 and 3 respectively, he does appear to have had a sizeable draw advantage in his favour.
The main danger to the selection – according to the bookmakers – is St Mark’s Basilica, who bypassed Newmarket in favour of this assignment. He was last seen winning the Dewhurst in October, where he had a string of proven Group 1 operators behind him. A 1.3m guineas yearling, and a half-brother to Magna Grecia, his pedigree certainly suggests that St Mark’s Basilica should thrive now tackling a mile for the first time, yet the absence is clearly a slight concern coming up against race-fit rivals.
The remaining British & Irish challenge is made up of Mehmento, who stepped forward markedly on two 7f Southwell wins when beaten just a neck into second in last month’s Greenham Stakes. This race demands even more from him, however, and a mile certainly asks a stern question on pedigree.
There is plenty of rain forecast in Paris in the build-up to Sunday’s race, and one horse guaranteed to be suited should ground conditions turn very testing is SEALIWAY. This colt had some smart form to his name as a juvenile, with a wide-margin victory in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere a notable highlight.
Frederic Rossi’s charge had a nice pipe-opener when second in the Prix de Fontainebleau last month, and that run should have blown away any cobwebs with the Guineas in mind.
With conditions presumably set to turn in his favour, and a fine knowledge of Paris-Longchamp an advantage over his main market rivals, the current 8/1 available looks more than fair.
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Poule d’Essai des Pouliches – (French 1000 Guineas)
Mother Earth is a strong favourite to back up her 1000 Guineas victory in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches this Sunday. Aidan O’Brien’s filly was well on the top at the line there, and connections have been quick to snap up the services of Christophe Soumillon for the ride this weekend.
She has obvious claims, yet certainly wouldn’t want conditions to ease too much, as she has looked at her best on top of the ground.
Ken Condon’s Miss Amulet was a real credit to her connections last year and suggested that she was worth persevering with over a mile when third at Keeneland in November – when just one place behind Mother Earth. That came on good ground, however, and these conditions are far more likely to place an emphasis on stamina. Whilst her yard has also been a little slow to come to hand this season.
The home charge is presumably headed by Sweet Lady, who performed well against the colts at Saint-Cloud last October (form franked) and ran out an ultra-impressive seven-length winner in Listed company on reappearance.
She only lost out in a blanket finish over course and distance afterwards and should be better suited by these testing conditions.
At a huge price, however, it would be no shock to see REINA MADRE outrun her current 20/1 odds, and as a result, she rates as the one to side with here.
This daughter of Kingman cost €350,000 as a foal and was a two-year-old winner in Spain last year. She came with a determined late thrust to land a Deauville Group 3 on last month’s reappearance, strongly suggesting that the extra furlong in prospect here should aid her cause.
Reina Madre gained her aforementioned juvenile win on testing ground, so any ease in conditions should not inconvenience, and she looks well berthed here in her stall 3 draw.
In a race more open than the betting suggests, it would be no shock to see her go well at 20/1.
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