Poule d'Essai des Poulains

Stuart McPhee can blame Emma Balding for the fact that he has now accumulated interests in more than 20 mares worldwide, but the man who prides himself on his bargain buys can now call himself a Classic breeder. Metropolitan (Fr), who also became a first Classic winner for his sire Zarak (Fr) in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains, has delivered a dream for his British breeder, who has mares not only in his home country, but increasingly in France and also Australia.  "I've had black-type horses before, but a...

Anyone who knows Pete Bradley even a little bit knows that he's a devoted Francophile. You almost can't travel in France without running into Pete somewhere or another. Arc de Triomphe? `Hey, Pete.' December sale? `Hi again, Pete!' Dinner at a friend's house in rural Normandy? `Seriously, Pete?' So it's only fitting that the most recent American owner to win a French Classic is one who would appreciate it so much. When Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) exploded up the rail in the final stages of Sunday's G1 Poule d'Essai des...

Last year's dual Group 1 winner Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) has already made her successful return to the racecourse this season in the Prix Jacques Laffitte and looks set to reappear in what could be a star-studded line-up for the G1 Prix d'Ispahan on May 26. In the meantime, her owner-breeder Baron Edouard de Rothschild will be represented in Sunday's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains by Alcantor (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), who was bought on the owner's behalf as a foal by Nick Bell, manager of the Rothschild...

   Jim Bolger has some unfinished business to take care of on Sunday, having gone agonisingly close to an unprecedented English-French-Irish Guineas treble in 2007 with Finsceal Beo (Ire) (Mr. Greeley). Denied by a head by Darjina (Fr) (Zamindar) in the second leg at ParisLongchamp, the "living legend" went on to add the Irish equivalent and it is a unique Guineas treble that is on the mind of the Coolcullen maestro once again in 2021. With an extra seven days than his brilliant filly had between the G1 2000 Guineas...

There is still a sense of the unknown where 'TDN Rising Star' Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is concerned, despite his already-impressive achievements, and Saturday's G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. at Newbury should provide more evidence as to the level of his ability. Staying on powerfully to win the G2 Sandown Mile by eight lengths on his seasonal return Apr. 23, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's G1 St James's Palace S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois hero has slower ground to contend with here but it should be...

At Wednesday's forfeit stage for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, both set for Sunday at ParisLongchamp, the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 1000 Guineas winners Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) and Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) both remained among the entries for their respective divisions. Also among the 13 colts still signed on for the Poulains are G1 Dewhurst S. winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}); G1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere victor Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}); G1 Criterium International runner-up Normandy Bridge...

Poule d'Essai des Poulains ALSON (GER) (Aerion {Ger}-Assisi {Ger}, by Galileo {Ire}) Andre Fabre's new recruit Alson races as a homebred for Corinna Baronin Von Ullman of Gestut Schlenderhan. He has plenty of Classic pointers in his pedigree, being a half-brother to the 2018 G2 German 2000 Guineas winner Ancient Spirit (Ger) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and a grandson of G1 German Oaks winner Amarette (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}). The third dam Avocette (Ger) (King's Lake) also won the German Guineas. Amarette and Avocette both raced as homebreds for Gestut Schlenderhan. THE...

By way of some twists and turns of fate, Monday's two mile French Classics will return to Deauville's straight track and Friday's declaration stage saw a total of 21 protagonists engaged across the G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Pouliches. Of the nine set to line up in the Poulains, Andre Fabre has Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal), Corinna Baronin Von Ullmann's Alson (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) and Coolmore's Arapaho (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), with the former the expected outright favourite at this juncture. Only third...

Eleven runners remain in the potential line-up for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and 16 for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, both of which are to be run on Monday at Deauville. With French racing remaining restricted to domestic runners until mid-June, all foreign-trained horses have been removed from the initial list of entries. A notable domestic defector among the colts is the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. winner Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal), who was scratched from his intended comeback run in the G3 Prix de...