The Lowdown: Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches

High-born sale-ring graduates and some bargain buys liberally dot the G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches field, with some quality homebreds tossed in for good measure. The race could see the unbeaten Italian wunderkind Folgaria add a first Group 1 to her resume, but it could just as easily be another European Guineas for Godolphin with Romantic Style or Rock'n Swing. Coolmore's Content is another in with a chance and only time will tell when the gates fly.

ROUHIYA (FR)
Lope De Vega (Ire)–Rondonia (Ire) (Raven's Pass)
Pedigree/form notes: Rouhiya is Rondonia's second foal and second winner. A granddaughter of stakes winner and G1 Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Cup S. third Raydiya (Ire) (Marju {Ire}), the Aga Khan homebred won at two in Deauville in November. Making her third start at ParisLongchamp in April, she ran third behind the re-opposing Rock'n Swing (GB) (Camelot {GB}) in a conditions event.

VESPERTILIO (FR)
Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Prudente (Fr) (Dansili {GB})
Sales info: Offered by Ecurie des Monceaux at the Arqana August Yearling Sale, she was purchased by Al Shira'aa Racing for €320,000.
Pedigree/form notes: Bred by Monceaux in partnership with the late Lady O'Reilly's Ecurie Skymarc Farm, the May foal was one of the best juvenile fillies in Europe, placing second in the G2 Silver Flash S., before breaking her maiden in the G2 Debutante S. in only her third start. She ended her season 1 1/4 lengths behind Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in second in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. in September and has yet to grace the racecourse since. Her dam is a full-sister to dual Group 1 producer Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), as well as a half-sister to Group 3 winner Pacifique (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). If she has progressed, she could be dangerous.

ROSE BLOOM (IRE)
Lope De Vega (Ire)–Xaarienne (GB) (Xaar {GB})
Sales info: Another sold for €320,000 out of the Arqana August sale, this John O'Connor-bred filly was offered by Ballylinch Stud, and joined the fold of international owner/breeder China Horse Club International.
Pedigree/form notes: Second in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, the dual winner is a half-sister to the Kendargent (Fr) stakes winners Sea The Rose (Ire), who won the G3 Prix Six Perfections, and Xaarino (Fr). Their dam was twice listed placed, and this clan also counts G2 Ribblesdale S. heroine Sahara Slew (Seattle Slew) and G3 Prix Cleopatre winner and G1 Prix de Diane third Sandbar (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) as members. Outpaced when seventh in the G3 Prix de la Grotte in April, she will need to improve.

SEE YOU AROUND (IRE)
Siyouni (Fr)–Besotted (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB})
Sales info: Offered by La Motteraye Consignment on behalf of breeder C-Squared Investments, this filly did not meet her reserve when she passed through Arqana's ring at €140,000 in August of 2022.
Pedigree/form notes: Racing in the silks of Cotton House Bloodstock, the half-sister to G3 Prix des Reservoirs heroine Fancy Me (Ire), by Siyouni's sire Pivotal (GB), is the fourth runner and winner for her dam, who struck at listed level in France and was second in the G2 Prix de Sandringham. Bred in the purple, this filly's Barathea (Ire) second dam Tender Is Thenight (Ire) is a half-sister to former leading sire and three-time Group/Grade 1 winner Last Tycoon (Ire) (Try My Best {Ire}). See You Around, a dual winner and listed placed at two, has already been seen twice this season and enters off a victory in the Listed Prix Aymeri de Mauleon at Toulouse on Apr. 21. This is her first foray into group company.

SPARKLING PLENTY (FR)
Kingman (GB)–Speralita (Fr) (Frankel {GB})
Sales info: Haras de Capucines consigned this filly on behalf of her breeder, Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois, to the Arqana August Sale, but she was a €600,000 buy-back and now races for Dubois.
Pedigree/form notes: This filly's dam is a half-sister to Eclipse Champion Grass Mare Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}), winner of the G1 Prix de Diane, Beverly D. S, Flower Bowl Invitational S., Prix Vermeille, Prix Saint-Alary and Prix Jean Romanet, all at Group/Grade 1 level. Sent to Japan, Stacelita's subsequent daughter and granddaughter–Soul Stirring (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}) and Stars On Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn})–both captured at least one Japanese fillies' Classic. The Patrice Cottier trainee won three straight to kickstart her career, taking the Listed Prix Delahante by a length at second asking before a four-length conditions win over the Chantilly all-weather this February. Stakes placed again, this time at Saint Cloud in March, this half-sister to G3 Jersey S. winner and Group 1 second Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) was fifth in the La Grotte last month.

MINOUSHKA (GB)
Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Mouille Point (GB) (Motivator {GB})
Sales info: A product of the SAS Le Thenney/Pearl Champs Elysses breeding programme, this filly was knocked down to Meridian International for €170,000 out of the Arqana October Yearling Sale.
Pedigree/form notes: Her second dam, Turning Leaf (GB) (Last Tycoon {Ire}), was third in the G2 German 1000 Guineas, prior to foaling German Group 3 winner Turning Light (Ger) (Fantastic Light). A debut winner, this Ecurie des Charmes runner was a close second in the G3 Prix de la Grotte and could come forward again here.

OPERA MUNDI (IRE)
Kingman (GB)–Solage (GB) (Galileo {Ire})
Sales info: Bred by Ballylinch Stud and Ecurie des Charmes, she didn't meet her reserve when offered by the former at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, and was a €220,000 buy-back.
Pedigree/form notes: A daughter of Listed Bluebell S. heroine Solage, the Ecurie des Charmes silks-bearer, winner of the Listed Prix Zeddaan at two, was unplaced stepping out in soft ground at Chantilly late last month. Kin to G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud victress Plumania (GB) (Anabaa), Opera Mundi should be sharper for Sunday's test.

ROMANTIC STYLE (IRE)
Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Sweety Dream (Fr) (Dream Ahead)
Sales info: A star pinhook who went from a €240,000 Goffs November foal from Oghill House Stud to Stauffenberg Bloodstock, only to make 550,000gns as a Book 1 yearling at Tattersalls when picked up by Godolphin.
Pedigree/form notes: She is a half-sister to stakes winner Are We Dreaming (Ire) (Kendargent {Ire}), while their dam landed the G3 Prix Miesque. Sweety Dream's Exosphere (Aus) half-brother Easter (Fr) won a brace of Grade II races in America and was second in the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile S. Godolphin already triumphed in a Guineas this term, and this filly, bred by Wansdyke Farms, Sh Bloodstock, J. Burke and Oghill, could give them another. A leading fancy, and enters off a career high with a tally in the G3 Prix Imprudence over subsequent G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas third and 'TDN Rising Star' Ramatuelle (Justify).

ROCK'N SWING (GB)
Camelot (GB)–Ragsah (Ire) (Shamardal)
Pedigree/form notes: The sixth foal and third winner for the group-placed Ragsah, this filly is also a half-sister to GII Goldikova S. third Richmond Avenue (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Her granddam is the multiple group-winning Colorado Dancer (Ire) (Shareef Dancer), twice placed at the highest level and dam of the standout runner Dubai Millennium (GB), the sire of Dubawi (Ire). Unbeaten in two starts at Saint-Cloud at two and at ParisLongchamp in April, this Godolphin homebred is making her stakes debut.

CHIC COLOMBINE (FR)
Seahenge–Little Hippo (GB) (Halling)
Sales info: A €6,000 Arqana December buy-back, this March-foaled filly was reoffered by Haras de la Haie Neuve at the Osarus September Yealring Sale, and brought €1,000 on the bid of MAB Agency.
Pedigree/form notes: Bred by Mell Elevages, Ecurie Artsam and Vincent Le Roy, this filly won four of her seven starts in England at two, and capped a career high when claiming the Listed Prix la Camargo by six lengths for trainer George Boughey in mid-March. The Pouliches will be just a handful of days short of two months later, and this relative of G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Bianca Nera (GB) (Salse) should be ready to go.

TULIPA CHOPE (FR)
Born To Sea (Ire)–Tulipe Rouge (Fr) (Panis)
Sales info: Part of the Haras des Faunes draft at the Osarus August Yearling Sale, this Alain Chopard and Cedric Boutin-bred filly caught the eye of Kevin Tavares for €5,000.
Pedigree/form notes: She is the fifth foal out of her winning dam and fourth winner. Never worse than third in six starts, this relative of G1 French Oaks heroine Valyra (GB) (Azamour {Ire}) won the G3 Prix des Reservoirs at two and was third to Candala and Minoushka in the Prix de la Grotte. That run should have taken care of any fitness issues and she should be a sharper prospect on Sunday.

KATHMANDU (IRE)
Showcasing (GB)–Alegra (GB) (Galileo {Ire})
Sales info: Barton Sales consigned this filly to the Tattersalls July Sale last summer, and she brought 50,000gns from Sam Sangster Bloodstock.
Pedigree/form notes: Bred by Sir Robert Ogden, the half-sister to stakes winners Pythagoras (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Blue Gardenia (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is a great granddaughter of the storied Lanwades blue hen Alouette (GB) (Darshaan {GB}). Successful at two, this fifth winner for Alegra earned her first black-type with a good third in the G3 Nell Gwyn S. in April. There should be more to come.

FOLGARIA (IRE)
Due Diligence–Full Moon Fever (Azamour {Ire})
Sales info: Offered by The Castlebridge Consignment on behalf of Turlough Boylan, she was sold for €10,000 out of the Tattersalls Ireland Premier Yearling Sale to Stefano Botti Turf.
Pedigree/form notes: The first winner and fourth foal of her dual-winning dam, Folgaria is kin to group winner Amore Hass (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) and beginning with her second dam, Hasaiyda (Ire) (Hector Protector), hails from a classy Aga Khan family. Flawless in five starts and battle-hardened, the queen of the Italian juveniles added the G3 Dubai Duty Free S. in her three-year-old bow, beating subsequent 1,000 Guineas winner Elmalka (GB).

CONTENT (IRE)
Galileo (Ire)–Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire})
Pedigree/form notes: She is the fourth foal of the sprinting star Mecca's Angel, herself a full-sister to the multiple group winner and sire Markaz (Ire), who won the G1 Nunthorpe S. twice. The Coolmore homebred has yet to be tested at three, but Aidan O'Brien is no stranger to getting his horses ready without a prep and won this race in 2001 with Rose Gypsy (GB) (Green Desert). The 2023 G3 Staffordstown Stud S. winner surged late to take fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and is likely to continue her upward progress.

LOUISE PROCTER (FR)
Siyouni (Fr)–Create A Dream (Oasis Dream {GB})
Sales info: Haras de Saint Pair consigned this filly to the Arqana August Sale, where she made €360,000 on the bid of Oceanic Bloodstock on behalf of Peter Brant's White Birch Farm.
Pedigree/form notes: A half-sister to Phosphorescence (Fr) (City Of Light), this 'TDN Rising Star' is out of the Chelsey Flower S. winner Create A Dream and her granddam is listed winner Anabaa's Creation (Ire) (Anabaa), second in the GI Clement L. Hirsch S. and third in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary. This is the extended family of the top broodmare Starlet's Sister (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), as Anabaa's Creation is her half-sister. Bred by St Elias Stables, LLC, the bay has three wins from three runs to her name, her latest over the Chantilly all-weather at the end of March, but has yet to face black-type company.