Churchill’s Blue Rose Cen Dominates The Pouliches

There were no complications other than a slightly tardy break for Yeguada Centurion SL's Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}–Queen Blossom {Ire}, by Jeremy) in Sunday's G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches as the admirably straightforward as well as high-class 3-5 favourite ruled the roost once again at ParisLongchamp. Needing stoking up at the start by Aurelien Lemaitre to race in the box seat behind the leader Sauterne (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), the homebred who had mastered the course-and-distance G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G3 Prix de la Grotte attacked that rival with 300 metres remaining and was soon in command. At the line, the pride of the Christopher Head stable had 1 3/4 lengths to spare over the Prix de la Grotte runner-up Lindy (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), with Sauterne clinging on for third, 1 1/4 lengths further behind.

“I don't think that the magnitude of this success has sunk in yet–it's really incredible,” Christopher Head said. “She is a filly I adore. She's got tougher with time and the is the Prix de Diane now. Her pedigree suggests she will be able to go longer. We could have contemplated going for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, but it's better to stick with the French programme.”

Christophe Ferland said of Lindy, “She ran a blinder. I was convinced she had a great chance and she was slightly caught for speed early in the race and it took her time to find her best stride. She finished strongly and proved she will stay, so the Prix de Diane will be her next race.”

 

Pedigree Notes
Blue Rose Cen's dam Queen Blossom, who captured the G3 Park Express S. and GIII Santa Barbara S., was secured by Leopoldo Fernández Pujals' operation for 110,000gns at the 2018 Tatts December Sale and her only known foal to date has placed that particular purchase in folklore. Queen Blossom's dam is the G3 Silver Flash S.-placed Mark Of An Angel (Ire) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}) while the family includes the GI Arlington Washington Futurity hero Well Decorated and the prolific sire Distinctive.

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
EMIRATES POULE D'ESSAI DES POULICHES-G1, €550,000, ParisLongchamp, 5-14, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:38.24, vsf.
1–BLUE ROSE CEN (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Churchill (Ire)
1st Dam: Queen Blossom (Ire) (GSW-Ire & US, $220,859), by Jeremy
2nd Dam: Mark Of An Angel (Ire), by Mark Of Esteem (Ire)
3rd Dam: Dream Time (GB), by Rainbow Quest
O/B-Yeguada Centurion SLU (IRE); T-Christopher Head; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. €314,270. Lifetime Record: 8-6-1-0, €679,330. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Lindy (Fr), 126, f, 3, Le Havre (Ire)–Llanita (GB), by Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€90,000 Ylg '21 ARQAUG). O-Everest Racing, Ecurie Waldeck, Meridian International SARL, Ecurie Elag, Ecurie Nininoe, Didier Provost & Frank Dhooghe; B-Ecurie La Vallee Martigny EARL (FR); T-Christophe Ferland. €125,730.
3–Sauterne (Fr), 126, f, 3, Kingman (GB)–Salicorne, by Aragorn (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€130,000 RNA Ylg '21 ARQAUG). O/B-Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois (FR); T-Patrice Cottier. €62,865.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 0.60, 8.10, 15.00.
Also Ran: Kelina (Ire), Never Ending Story (Ire), Fancy Me (Ire), Showay (Fr), Quickstep (Fr), Ritournelle (Fr), Swingalong (Ire). Video, sponsored by TVG.

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When The Going Gets Soft For Poules Day In Paris

   As it was at Newmarket, ParisLongchamp's ground is going to take some getting through for the protagonists in Sunday's G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and it is safe to say that appreciation of give underfoot is essential.

That applies to several of the star colts and fillies lining up for the first domestic Classics and it is certain to be no worse than the testing going that Isaac Shelby (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) had to deal with at Newbury last time. Leading home the riderless Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in his last race in the Sangster silks in the seven-furlong G3 Greenham S., Wathnan Racing's acquisition was adding to his fast-ground G2 Superlative S. success as a juvenile, so versatility is assured.

Brian Meehan has spent a while in the Classic wilderness and this is a key moment for the Manton-based trainer who last enjoyed Group 1 success 11 years ago. “He has been working great,” he said. “The Guineas was a nice form boost in a funny sort of way. I know they are saying it will be heavy ground, but it doesn't really matter what sort of ground we get–we are going to get whatever we get. The thing is, he is there on good-to-firm and soft, so we'll take our chance.”

Flying The Flag

France's defence of the Poulains may rest with Malcolm Parrish's American Flag (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who beat the re-opposing Kendly (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) in convincing fashion in the Listed Prix Omnium II at Saint-Cloud in March before following up in the course-and-distance G3 Prix de Fontainebleau last month. That form has taken a knock subsequently and there is no telling at the moment how good Yann Barberot's stable star is. “The horse is in great shape,” his trainer said. “He appreciates the very soft terrain and he has a very good mentality. He knows Longchamp and I am confident for Sunday.”

Good Knight?

Trailing Isaac Shelby in the Greenham, KHK Racing's TDN Rising Star Knight (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) has to rebound with the form of his G3 Horris Hill S. now also looking to have more holes in it than at the start of the season. Whether the deep promise of his Yarmouth debut can be fulfilled is the burning question for Simon and Ed Crisford. “I don't know what happened at Newbury to be honest, but the horse has bounced out of the Greenham,” Ed Crisford said. “He just didn't go a yard and there's nothing much to say about that other than it was very disappointing. He seems to have come alive and come on for that race, so he's going to France and hopefully he can run a big race albeit he has to prove it now.”

Anybody's Guess

On the face of it, Hisaaki Saito's Good Guess (GB) (Kodiac {GB})) has something to find even allowing for his G3 Prix Djebel success from TDN Rising Star Breizh Sky (Fr) (Pedro The Great) and Fabrice Chappet would not have been heartened by the draw in eight. What effect that post position will have this year, with only 10 runners, remains to be seen and Breizh Sky is even wider in the outside stall. Alain Jathiere's colour-bearer is beginning to look a habitual “nearly horse” and he needs a strong pace to run at, which is not guaranteed here.

Trainer Alessandro Botti is clinging on to hope that things will fall right for Breizh Sky at some point. “The forecast very soft ground shouldn't be a problem for him, as he finished third in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere when there was plenty of give,” he said. “His comeback effort in the Prix Djebel was quite good, but the race was devoid of pace and things panned out perfectly for Good Guess.”

An Unfolding Story

When Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) encountered Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the course-and-distance G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, it was Yeguada Centurion SL's homebred who held the bragging rights but there was something in the seasonal return of Ballydoyle's blueblood that suggested it would be a lot closer as they re-engage in the Pouliches. Overwhelming the subsequent 1000 Guineas third Matilda Picotte (Ire) (Sioux Nation) and G3 Cournelsourt S. scorer Zarinsk (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) in Leopardstown's G3 Ballylinch Stud 1000 Guineas Trial S., the descendant of Urban Sea (Miswaki) will be a different proposition for Christopher Head's stable luminary to handle this time.

Looking Out For Lindy

Surrendering her unbeaten record to Blue Rose Cen in the G3 Prix de la Grotte over this course and distance last month, Everest Racing, Ecurie Waldeck and Meridian International's Lindy (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) hails from a family of soft-ground lovers and trainer Christophe Ferland is keen to have another go at the favourite. “Since her debut, Lindy has done nothing but improve,” he said. “She had a good winter and her comeback effort in the Prix de la Grotte was very good. She is very easy to handle and I harbour no worries about her ability to act over course and distance. She is a daughter of Le Havre and so I don't feel that the ground will be a hindrance to her. Depending on how she fares on Sunday, I hope to run her in the Prix de Diane. I have even entered her in the Arc, because I think that in time and given greater maturity that longer trips will be within her compass.”

Can Kelina Rebound?

It seems a long time ago that the Wertheimers' TDN Rising Star Kelina (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was favourite for the Marcel Boussac and although she was last in that contest put up a fine comeback effort behind Quickstep (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the course-and-distance Prix du Louvre conditions race last month. From the family of Dansili's Group 1 winners With You (GB) and We Are (Ire) and Frankel's Call The Wind (GB), the Carlos Laffon-Parias-trained homebred will be staying on when some have cried enough.

Jannah Rose Poised For Saint-Alary Test

Frankel might already have had a big afternoon by the time the G1 St Mark's Basilica Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary comes around, where his unbeaten daughter Jannah Rose (Ire) will be a warm order to build on her quietly-dominant display in the nine-furlong G3 Prix Vanteaux here last month. Al Shira'aa Farms' €650,000 Goffs Orby sensation is developing a formidable reputation which will be put to the test here by some talented fillies including Ballydoyle's Boogie Woogie (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). A daughter of the Irish Oaks heroine Seventh Heaven (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), she came up against the stable's kingpin Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at Leopardstown two starts back when the pick of Ryan Moore which gives an indication as to the regard in which she is held. There will be some surprised people if Elusive Princess (Fr) (Martinborough {Jpn}) can't reverse the form of the G3 Prix Cleopatre with Crown Princesse (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), with LNJ Foxwoods purchasing a half-share in the former after her luckless run. Both have been supplemented, but both have to raise their game to reward that decision.

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Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches: Where Did They Come From?

by Heather Anderson & Brian Sheerin
   Yeguada Centurion's Group 1 winner Blue Rose Cen has already prepped for this race with a 1 1/2-length victory in the G3 Prix de la Grotte in April, however Lindy ran second that day and reopposes on Sunday. The Coolmore partners run Never Ending Story in this fillies' Classic, and she, too, enters off a win–the G3 1000 Guineas Trial S. at Leopardstown.

 

SWINGALONG (IRE), Showcasing (GB)–Pilates (Ire) (Shamardal)
Owner: Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum
Breeder: Mountarmstrong Stud
Trainer: Karl Burke
Sales History: 120,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: The fourth winner of four to run from her dam, the G2 Lowther S. heroine was just two lengths back of Remarquee (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G3 Dubai Duty Free S. She lucked out with stall one, and could improve given the right conditions.

 

 

FANCY ME (IRE), Pivotal (GB)–Besotted (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB})
Owner: Cotton House Bloodstock
Breeder: C-Squared Investments
Trainer: Philippe Sogorb
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Out of a listed winner who was second in the G2 Prix de Sandringham, Fancy Me is the third  winner for her dam, herself a half-sister to 2006 Pouliches heroine Tie Black (Ire) (Machiavellian). Won the soft-ground G3 Prix des Reservoirs, but would need to find more on Sunday.

 

 

SAUTERNE (FR), Kingman (GB)–Salicorne (Aragorn {Ire})
Owner/Breeder: Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois
Trainer: Patrice Cottier
Sales History: €130,000 vendor buyback at Arqana August
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Sauterne is part of a quintet of scorers for Salicorne, herself a half-sister to the champion Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}), who has thrown a pair of Japanese Classic-winning fillies. In with a chance if she can continue to build on her listed win in April.

 

 

LINDY (FR), Le Havre (Ire)–Llanita (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire})
Owner: Ecurie Waldeck, Meridian International SARL Et Al.
Breeder: Ecurie La Vallee Martigny Earl
Trainer: Christophe Ferland
Sales History: €90,000 Arqana August yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: The most talented of three black-type horses from the multiple stakes-placed Llanita on paper, Lindy has been dominant in the French provinces. She was second to likely favourite Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the G3 Prix de la Grotte last month, but the waters are deeper here.

 

QUICKSTEP (FR), Wootton Bassett (GB)–Dance Toupie (Fr) (Dansili {GB})
Owner: Godolphin SNC
Breeder: Mathieu Daguzan-Garros
Trainer: Andre Fabre
Sales History: €120,000 Arqana December foal; 350,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Dance Toupie has foaled a brace of group/graded-placed horses. Quickstep's granddam, Toupie (GB) (Intikhab) was second in the 2005 edition of this race. A winner over course and distance in soft going recently, this filly has yet to earn black type.

 

 

SHOWAY (FR), (Galiway (GB)–Show Gorb (Spa) (Caradak {Ire})
Owner: Gousserie Racing
Breeder: Guy Pariente Holding
Trainer: Patrice Cottier
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Fifth foal out of the Group 3-placed Show Gorb. One of the most experienced runners in the field with 11 starts under her belt already, including a narrow victory in the G3 Prix Imprudence at odds of 42-1 last time.

 

 

NEVER ENDING STORY (IRE), Dubawi (Ire)–Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB})
Owner: Mrs John Magnier/Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Westerberg
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: First foal out of the classy Athena, winner of the GI Belmont Oaks, and half-sister to multiple highly-rated performers including Bracelet (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), and Wading (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). She is also a daughter of Cherry Hinton (GB) (Green Desert), who is out of the legendary Urban Sea (Miswaki). Looked good in winning her Guineas trial at Leopardstown, the form of which has been boosted with the runner-up Matilda Picotte (Ire) (Sioux Nation) placing in the 1000 Guineas.

 

 

RITOURNELLE (FR), Camelot (GB)–Robanne (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire})
Owner: Jean-Claude Seroul, Haras D'Etreham & Riviera Equine Sarl
Breeder: Haras D'Etreham & Riviera Equine Sarl
Trainer: Jerome Reynier
Sales History: A €260,000 Arqana August Sale grad
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: The first winner out of Robanne, who won a maiden and was listed-placed for William Knight. Behind Showay in a trial last month and has a bit to find on ratings.

 

 

KELINA (IRE), Frankel (GB)–Incahoots (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB})
'TDN Rising Star'
Owner/Breeder: Wertheimer & Frere
Trainer: Carlos Laffon-Parias
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Half-sister to the yard's listed-placed Ansilia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) out of the listed-placed Incahoots. Beaten just a neck by Quickstep on her return. Must have strong each-way claims on that basis.

 

 

BLUE ROSE CEN (IRE), Churchill (Ire)–Queen Blossom {Ire}) (Jeremy)
Owner/Breeder: Yeguada Centurion SL
Trainer: Christopher Head
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: First foal out of Queen Blossom, a Group 3 winner in Ireland and America. Arguably one of the most exciting fillies in training, she won the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac last term and returned with a dominant display to win a Group 3 here last month. Sets a high standard.

 

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Lingfield Offers Epsom Clues

   Sandwiched in between the Derby and Oaks trials of Chester and York, Lingfield stages its own prep races for both Epsom Classics on Saturday before Classic action unfolds again in France on Sunday. It was only four years ago that Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}) revived the Listed Derby and Oaks Trials by doubling up on the first Friday and Saturday in June and with the major yards represented close inspection is required.

In the Derby Trial, the two colts who went to post for the Listed Newmarket S. just eight days ago, Circle Of Fire (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}) and Waipiro (Ire) (Australia {GB}), venture forth again to try and squeeze into what could be an open contest next month.     While Waipiro was unable to take part at Newmarket after Tom Marquand was kicked, The King and Queen Consort's Circle Of Fire showed up with promise in the 10-furlong contest and it is notable that he is backing up uncharacteristically for a Sir Michael Stoute charge. Obviously connections are still harbouring an outside dream of the Royal colours being carried at Epsom, while Waipiro's trainer Ed Walker could be about to relive the buzz that his 2020 Lingfield Derby Trial winner English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) provided.

“The tight nature of this track I don't think will suit many Derby-type horses, but he's a well-balanced horse and I would rather run on the all-weather than heavy ground,” he said. “We don't have a heap of mile-and-a-half horses to compare him to, so we need to compare them to other peoples. So we go there knowing as much as you do really.”

 

One For Inquiring Minds

If ever a son of Kingman (GB) was going to have a genuine Derby contender, it would be in the mould of Anthony Oppenheimer's Inquiring Minds (GB) whose dam Precious Ramotswe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) was successful in the 14-furlong G3 Bronte Cup. Impressive on his 10-furlong debut at Newcastle 11 days prior to this test, the John and Thady Gosden trainee is another who is being sent back into action unusually quickly for a stable renowned for patience. “This will tell us what kind of standard he is,” Oppenheimer said of the homebred, who bids to provide the stable with its first winner of this since Percussionist (Ire) in 2004. “The King Edward is the sort of race one thinks he might enjoy–I would think he will be more suited to Ascot. I think he is quite useful, but I don't think he's number one in the stable, so I don't think we can expect too much.”

 

A Valid Point?

With the switch to the Polytrack for the two Classic trials, it may be that proven form on the surface counts for a lot. For all the proven class of Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's TDN Rising Star and G1 Fillies' Mile third Bright Diamond (Ire) (El Kabeir) and Ballydoyle's G3 Prix Penelope third Be Happy (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Godolphin's pair Eternal Hope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Sunset Point (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) have won at Chelmsford and at this track respectively. The latter, who scored by seven lengths on her 3-year-old bow in a Windsor handicap last month, is a daughter of Hidden Gold (Ire) (Shamardal) who captured the Listed River Eden Fillies' S. over this track and surface and who hails from the ultimate Epsom family of Galileo (Ire), Sea The Stars (Ire) and Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). “Both don't look out of place in the field and this should give us a gauge for their future,” trainer Charlie Appleby said.

 

Draws Made For Poulains and Pouliches

ParisLongchamp's G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches took their final shape on Friday, with manageable fields of 10 for both negating the worst effects of the draw. On that front, there was good news for Wathnan Racing as their high-profile acquisition Isaac Shelby (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) is in stall one for the colts' Classic next to Malcolm Parrish's likely favourite American Flag (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Aidan O'Brien is to be represented only by 'TDN Rising Star' Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who breaks from stall six which is also the draw handed to the stable's sole Pouliches representative Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

 

Inside Post For Blue

Yeguada Centurion SL's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G3 Prix de la Grotte scorer Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) was handed stall one for the Pouliches, with Jean-Claude Seroul, Haras d'Etreham and Riviera Equine's Ritournelle (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) next door in two. While Blue Rose Cen should be sent forward from that favourable draw, Ritournelle who was beaten a head by Showay (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) in the G3 Prix Imprudence at Deauville will be arriving late on her return to a mile. “I did regret not running her in the 1000 Guineas, given that the ground at Newmarket was riding soft and because she loves a straight course,” trainer Jerome Reynier admitted. “Ritournelle has done nothing but improve with each race, her preparation has gone well and so we can go to into the race calmly and confidently.”

 

Can Rouget Turn It Around?

This season has hardly gone to plan for Jean-Claude Rouget, with most of the Classic trials for once passing him by, but in The Aga Khan's Valimi (Fr) (Teofilo {Ire}) and White Birch Farm's Kubrick (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) he has two live Poulains contenders. Valimi, who took April's course-and-distance Prix Machado conditions event, has the GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Val Royal (Fr) in his pedigree while Kubrick's half-brother Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) has two top-level successes to his name at the trip. “Valimi and Kubrick did their final serious pieces of work on the grass at Deauville racecourse on Tuesday–the ground was very soft and they were not visibly inconvenienced by it,” Rouget said. “Both were giving me concern in this respect beforehand, especially Kubrick. He made a good return [when fourth] in the Prix Djebel and I was satisfied with his performance. Valimi improved for his return effort at Saint-Cloud and very quickly set the record straight last time.”

 

Testing Ground For Sunday

Charles de Cordon, who has the task of preparing the track at ParisLongchamp, is expecting the mile Classics to be stamina tests. “It has rained a lot in the Parisian region during the first part of the week, but the track has been drying out,” he said. “We expect the ground to ride very soft on Sunday and anticipate a penetrometer reading of around 3.9. There will be a 10-metre strip of fresh ground and the open-stretch, five metres out from the running rail, will also come into play.”

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