The Lowdown: Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains

A baker's dozen go to post in the G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, and the field is fairly evenly matched, homebreds versus sales graduates. Coolmore's G1 National S. hero Henry Longfellow is the highest-rated horse in the field, and he's backed up by 2.4 million gns Tattersalls Book 1 alum and Group 2 winner Diego Velazquez. The home team should field a fierce defence, however, and His Highness The Aga Khan's Keran and Roshvar could both step up to give their breeder his seventh French 2,000 Guineas since 1970, and first since Sendawar (Ire) (Priolo) in 1999.

KERAN (FR)
Blue Point (Ire)–Kerasona (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB})
Pedigree/form notes: The Aga Khan homebred is the fourth winner from as many runners out of his Listed-winning dam, who is in turn a half-sister to three black-type performers, including the G3 Prix du Bois winner Keratiya (Fr) (Iron Mask).
Keran won two of his first three starts and ran well on his first try in Pattern company when last seen filling the runner-up spot behind the unbeaten Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) in the G3 Prix Djebel.

ROSHVAR (FR)
Siyouni (Fr)–Roshanara (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire})
Pedigree/form notes: Like Keran, this colt is an Aga Khan homebred and the third winner from as many runners for his Listed-placed dam, a half-sister to the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Rosanara (Fr) (Sinndar {Ire}). His granddam, the dual Listed winner Rosawa (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}), is a full-sister to the multiple Group 2 winner/Group 1-placed Rajsaman (Fr), the sire of the 2017 winner of this race, Brametot (Ire), who also won the G1 Prix du Jockey Club.
Roshvar opened his account on his second start at two and now steps up markedly in grade having returned to action this year with a runner-up finish behind the reopposing Supercooled in a conditions race at Longchamp.

ORNE (IRE)
Acclamation (GB)–Pellucid (GB) (Excelebration {Ire})
Sales info: Offered by his breeders Rathbarry Stud at Tattersalls October Book 2, he was bought by Charlie Gordon-Watson and owners Al Shaqab for 120,000gns.
Pedigree/form notes: The pillar-to-post winner of the G3 Horris Hill S. on his final start at two, he has performed with credit in his four runs this year without managing to get his head back in front. His dam was third in the G3 Dick Poole Fillies' S. and is a half-sister to the G2 Boomerang S. winner and young sire Space Traveller (GB). His third dam is the winning Snow Crystal (Ire) (Kingmambo), a half-sister to the G1 Fillies' Mile winner Crystal Music (Nureyev).

BEAUVATIER (FR)
Lope De Vega (Ire)–Enchanting Skies (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire})
Sales info: Bred by Ecurie des Monceaux, Qatar Bloodstock and Barbara Keller, he sold at the Arqana August Sale for €160,000 to trainer Yann Barberot.
Pedigree/form notes: This colt earned 'TDN Rising Star' status when making a successful debut at two and was unbeaten until finishing third in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.
Runner-up in last month's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau, he is the first foal out of his Listed-placed dam, a half-sister to three other black-type performers, including the G1 Preis von Europa victor Empoli (Ger) (Halling). Elle Danzig (Ger) (Roi Danzig), who won multiple top-level races after completing the G2 Henkel Rennen (German 1,000 Guineas)/G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) double, also features on his page as a half-sister to his third dam, Eirehill (Ire) (Danehill).

RAMADAN (FR)
Le Havre (Ire)–Raushan (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire})
Pedigree/form notes: The Sumbe homebred has stepped up on his two-year-old form in two starts this year with back-to-back wins, landing a Listed race at Saint-Cloud by five lengths and then beating Beauvatier in the Prix de Fontainebleau.
His winning dam, a full-sister to the G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine Chinese White (Ire), has also thrown the Listed-winning Rasima (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) from only three foals to race. His granddam,  Chiang Mai (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), was a smart performer who won the Blandford S. when it was run as a Group 3, while his third dam is the renowned Eljazzi (Artaius), responsible for the G1 Prix de Diane heroine Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}), who in turn achieved notoriety as the dam of the successful sires Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (GB).

METROPOLITAN (FR)
Zarak (Fr)–Alianza (GB) (Halling)
Sales info: Bred by Stuart McPhee, he sold at the Arqana October Yearling Sale for €78,000 to Alessandro Marconi.
Pedigree/form notes: Two from two as a juvenile, he wasn't beaten far despite finishing only fifth on his return to action in the Prix de Fontainebleau. He is the second winner from four runners out of his unraced dam, a half-sister to the Listed-placed Boater (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}). Also unraced was his granddam, Cercle d'Amour (Storm Cat), a full-sister to the Listed-winning Royal Tigress (Storm Cat) and a half-sister to the G3 Norfolk S. winner and G1 Prix Morny runner-up Warm Heart (Diesis {GB}).

DANCING GEMINI (IRE)
Camelot (GB)–Lady Adelaide (Ire) (Australia {GB})
Pedigree/form notes: The Fishdance homebred showed a high level of form at two, easily winning a Listed race at Doncaster and possibly finding the ground too soft there when finishing fifth in the G1 Futurity Trophy. He is the first runner out of his winning dam and descends from a smart French family. His third dam is the Listed-winning Red Stella (Fr) (Rainbow Quest), a full-sister to the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud hero Special Quest (Fr) and a half-sister to the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte winner Moiava (Fr) (Bering {GB}). Their dam, Mona Stella (Nureyev), a half-sister to the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Dancing Maid (Fr) (Lyphard), won the Prix de l'Opera when it was run as a Group 2.

SUPERCOOLED (IRE)
Lope De Vega (Ire)–Liquid Amber (Kitten's Joy)
Pedigree/form notes: A homebred from the Niarchos Family's Flaxman Stables Ireland, he looked a useful colt when beating Roshvar to gain his second career win at Longchamp. His dam won the G3 Flame Of Tara S. and is out of Pachattack (Pulpit), who was a dual Listed winner in Britain before moving to the US where she won a pair of Grade III races and was twice runner-up at the top level. Pachattack also produced the winning Dilmun (War Front), the dam of Friday's G2 Huxley S. winner Passenger (Ulysses {Ire}).

PUCHKINE (FR)
Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Vadyska (Ire) (So You Think {NZ})
Pedigree/form notes: This 'TDN Rising Star' met with his first defeat in three starts for owner/breeder Alain Jathiere when recently filling the runner-up spot in a Listed race at Toulouse. He is the second winner from three runners out of his unraced dam, a half-sister to the Listed-winning Romina Power (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}). His granddam is the Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) mare Rockatella (Ire), who won twice at Listed level, while his fourth dam is Repeat Warning (GB) (Warning {GB}), a half-sister to the G1 Irish Champion S. winner Cezanne (GB) (Ajdal).

HENRY LONGFELLOW (IRE)
Dubawi (Ire)–Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Pedigree/form notes: The Coolmore homebred went unbeaten in three starts as a two-year-old, earning 'TDN Rising Star' status on debut and later proving himself a top-class prospect in winning the G1 National S. by five lengths.
Henry Longfellow is bred in the purple as the second foal and first runner out of a mare whose haul of seven Group 1 wins included the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks. Her dam, Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who struck in the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Matron S. for the same stable, produced only Galileos for Coolmore and to great effect. They included another Oaks winner in Tuesday (Ire), who went on to win the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, plus the G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Empress Josephine (Ire) and G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial winner Kissed by Angels (Ire).

EBEN SHADDAD
Calyx (GB)–Galileo's Lady (Galileo {Ire})
Sales info: Bred by Charles Fipke, he was a $100,000 Keeneland September yearling before being bought by Najd Stud at the Arqana Breeze-up Sale for €190,000.
Pedigree/form notes: This 'TDN Rising Star' performed with credit on his return to action when filling the runner-up spot in the G3 Craven S., having ended his two-year-old campaign with a solid third in the G1 Dewhurst S. at the same course. His unraced dam is a half-sister to five winners, including the GII Nassau S. heroine Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown) and Ready Lady (More Than Ready), who finished third in the GII Dance Smartly S. for owner/breeder Fipke. Eben Shaddad's granddam, the GII New York S. winner Lady Shakespeare (Theatrical {Ire}), was a smart performer for Fipke in her own right. So too was his third dam, Lady Shirl (That's A Nice), who won the GI Flower Bowl H. and also produced the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Perfect Shirl (Perfect Soul {Ire}), herself dam of the GI Maker's Mark Mile S. victor Shirl's Speight (Speightstown).

ALCANTOR (FR)
New Bay (GB)–Bianca De Medici (GB) (Medicean {GB})
Sales info: Bred by SCEA du Grand Chene, he was offered by Haras du Hoguenet as a foal at Arqana, where he sold to owner Baron Edouard de Rothschild's Haras de Meautry for €180,000.
Pedigree/form notes: Another 'TDN Rising Star', he managed only sixth when sent off favourite for the Craven, but his two-year-old form, which included a runner-up finish in the G1 Criterium International, entitles him to the utmost respect. He is the sixth winner from as many runners out of his winning dam–a half-sister to the Hungarian champion Thunder Teddington (GB) (Halling)–with the others including the G2 Oppenheim-Union-Rennen victor Boscaccio (Ger) (Mount Nelson {GB}). The descendants of his third dam, Trevillari (Riverman)–a full-sister to the G1 Prix Saint-Alary victrix Treble–include the dual G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}, while his fourth dam Trevilla (Lyphard) is an unraced half-sister to the great Triptych (Riverman).

DIEGO VELAZQUEZ (IRE)
Frankel (GB)–Sweepstake (Ire) (Acclamation {GB})
Sales info: Bred by Epona Bloodstock Ltd, he sold to MV Magnier and White Birch Farm for 2.4 million gns at Tattersalls October Book 1.
Pedigree/form notes: Like Dancing Gemini, he seemed to find the ground too soft in the Futurity Trophy having previously looked a colt potentially out of the top drawer in winning his first two starts, earning 'TDN Rising Star' status on debut before following up in the G2 Champions Juvenile S. at the expense of Capulet (Justify).
That appeals as solid form after the runner-up's Listed Dee S. win and Diego Velazquez certainly has plenty to recommend him on pedigree as a sibling to the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud victor Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), plus Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who gained the sixth black-type victory of his career in Thursday's G3 Ormonde S. at Chester. Their dam is a Listed winner out of the Suave Dancer mare Dust Flicker (GB), herself a full-sister to the G3 Prix de la Nonette victrix Dust Dancer (GB). Dust Dancer, in turn, is the granddam of G1 Phoenix S.-winning sire Zoffany (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and G3 Bengough S. winner Projection (GB) (Acclamation {GB}).