Emirates Poule d’Essai Des Poulains: Where Did They Come From?

by Brian Sheerin & Heather Anderson

This colts' Classic appears to be Isaac Shelby (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire})'s to lose, after his G3 Greenham S. romp at Newbury. The Wathnan Racing runner is set to lock horns with the Coolmore partners' G3 2000 Guineas Trial S. winner Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) among others, and, with only 10 runners, the draw is of minimal concern in Paris.

 

BREIZH SKY (FR), Pedro The Great–Anna Danse (Fr) (Anabaa)
'TDN Rising Star'
Owner: Alain Jathiere, Louis Baudron Et Al
Breeder: Haras des Evees, D & Mme C Cherdo
Trainer: Alessandro & Giuseppe Botti
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Placed at Group 1 level at two, he is the best of four winners for his dam. From the family of G1 German Oaks winner Toskana Belle (Fr) (Shamalgan {Fr}), this listed scorer could emerge with a piece of the spoils.

 

 

MARHABA YA SANAFI (IRE), Muhaarar (GB)–Danega (GB) (Galileo {Ire})
Owner: Jaber Abdullah
Breeder: Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd.
Trainer: Andreas Schutz
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Second dam Danelissima (Ire) (Danehill) won the G3 Noblesse S., and this colt's extended family features Group 1 winners Intense Focus (Giant's Causeway) and Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy). Led early in the G3 Prix de Fontainbleau, but this March foal faces an uphill battle.

 

VALIMI (FR), Teofilo (Ire)–Valdaya (Fr) (Acclamation {GB})
Owner: His Highness The Aga Khan
Breeder: Haras de S A Aga Khan SCEA
Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Produced by a half-sister to G1 Prix de Diane winner Valyra (GB) (Azamour {Ire}), Valimi has yet to be worse than second in three starts. However, this colts' Classic is his first try in black-type company.

 

 

KENDLY (FR), Kendargent (Fr)–Kindly Dismiss (Fr) (Excellent Art {GB})
Owner: Gerard Augustin-Normand & Stephen Lahmi
Breeder: Guy Pariente Holding
Trainer: Philippe Sogorb
Sales History: €38,000 Arqana October yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: This stakes-winning brother to stakes winner Surrey Mist (Fr) is related to GI Garden City S. heroine Alterite (Fr) (Literato {Ire}). Second to budding favourite American Flag (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) previously, he needs to step forward again here.

 

KNIGHT (IRE), Mehmas (Ire)–Fidaaha (Ire) (New Approach {Ire})
'TDN Rising Star'
Owner: KHK Racing Ltd.
Breeder: Tally-Ho Stud
Trainers: Simon & Ed Crisford
Sales History: 210,000gns Tattersall October Book 1 yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: The G3 Horris Hill S. winner is a brother to the classy Malavath (Ire), and their dam is a half-sister to multiple group winner Steip Amach (Ire) (Vocalised). Adrift in Isaac Shelby's G3 Greenham, Knight will need to run a career best to gain Classic laurels.

 

AMERICAN FLAG (FR), Wootton Bassett (GB)–Tres Americanqueen (Fr) (American Post {GB})
Owner: Malcolm Parrish
Breeder: Chevotel De La Hauquerie
Trainer: Yann Barberot
Sales History: €102,000 Arqana August yearling
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: A half-brother to four individual winners, he is the eighth foal out of Tres Americanqueen, herself a half-sister to six black-type horses. They include German Derby runner-up Tres Blue (Ire) (Anabaa Blue {GB}). American Flag has been impressive in both of his starts this season and sets a good standard.

 

 

GOOD GUESS (GB), Kodiac (GB)–Zykina (GB) (Pivotal {GB})
Owner: Hisaaki Saito
Breeder: Cheveley Park Stud Limited
Trainer: Fabrice Chappet
Sales History: 420,000gns buy at Tattersalls October Book 1
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Half-brother to Group 3 winner Spangled (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), nine-time winner Jumira Bridge (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and two other winners. Hails from a good family, with his dam Zykina being a daughter of 1000 Guineas and four-time Group 1 winner Russian Rhythm (Kingmambo). On the up but improvement required to get involved.

 

 

ISAAC SHELBY (GB), Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Kentucky Belle (Ire) (Heliostatic {Ire})
Owner: Wathnan Racing
Breeder: Elaine Chivers
Trainer: Brian Meehan
Sales History: £92,000 Goffs UK Premier yearling; sold privately after G3 Greenham S. win.
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Dam an unraced half-sister to U.S. Grade II winner Ramazutti (Honor Grades). Hugely impressive winner of the Greenham on his return, after which, his trainer stated that all roads would lead here. Looks a major player and a fascinating first runner for his new owners in Europe.

 

 

HANS ANDERSEN (GB), Frankel (GB)–Shadow Hunter (Ire) (Arcano {Ire})
'TDN Rising Star'
Owner: Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith
Breeder: Sun Bloodstock
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Sales History: Tattersalls Book 1 yearling buy at 450,000gns
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Dam a Listed-winning two-year-old over five furlongs out of a half-sister to 1000 Guineas-placed Super Sleuth (Ire) (Selkirk). Hans Anderson was an impressive winner of a 2000 Guineas trial at Leopardstown on his return and could be open to plenty of improvement.

 


KUBRICK (Ire), Dubawi (Ire)–Rosa Bonheur (Mr. Greeley)
Owner/Breeder: White Birch Farm
Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget
Pedigree Notes/Form Analysis: Half-brother to Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a triple Grade I winner in America, out of the listed-placed Rosa Bonheur, who in turn is a daughter of the Group 2-winning Rolly Polly (Ire) (Mukaddamah). Well-held by Good Guess on his seasonal return.

 

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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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Chaldean One Of A Score Of Colts In Guineas At Latest Entry Stage

Despite losing Frankie Dettori once the gates flew in the G3 Greenham S. on Saturday, Juddmonte's Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) remains part of the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas field. After Tuesday's latest scratching stage, 20 colts are still entered in the first Classic of the British season on Saturday, May 6.

A winner of four of his six starts, the G1 Dewhurst S. hero is one of two in the one-mile race for Andrew Balding. Second in the Dewhurst, G2 Richmond S. scorer Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) will attempt to turn the tables for Mrs. Fitri Hay and trainers Paul and Oliver Cole.

Ahmad Al Shaikh's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion) remains in the race for Charlie Johnston, as do the Godolphin/Charlie Appleby pair of G2 Gimcrack S. winner Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).

The Coolmore partners and Aidan O'Brien field a quintet led by Group 1 scorers Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never). G3 Killavullan S. hero Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road) is also signed on, as is G3 2000 Guineas Trial S. winner Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Third behind Auguste Rodin and Tuesday's Listed Weatherbys Digital Solutions Blue Riband Trial hero Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in the Vertem Futurity Trophy, Holloway Boy (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) is one of three in the race for Karl Burke. Burke runner Indestructible (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who won the G3 Craven S. over the course-and-distance of the Guineas, will also take part. Group winners Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) hail from the stable of Roger Varian.

There is also still a chance of a royal runner, as the King and Queen Consort's two-for-two Slipofthepen (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) has also retained his entry for John and Thady Gosden.

In the fillies' equivalent on Sunday, May 7, 26 nominees have stood their ground, among them Group 1 winners Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never), and Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) for trainers Ralph Beckett, Aidan O'Brien, and Dermot Weld, respectively.

Beckett has also entered G3 Fred Darling S. heroine Remarquee (GB) (Kingman {GB}), while Hugo Palmer trains the runner-up in Stenton Glider (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}). Juddmonte's Juliet Siera (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), a Group 3 winner, is also part of Beckett's Guineas challenge.

The first and second-place finishers from the G3 Nell Gwyn S. also have entries in Mammas Girl (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) for Richard Hannon and Fairy Cross (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for Charlie Appleby. Saeed bin Suroor's G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. heroine and G1 Cheveley Park S. third Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) has been entered. G2 May Hill S. heroine Polly Pott (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) for trainer Ben Pauling is also part of the fray.

O'Brien is double-fisted in the Guineas, as his G3 1000 Guineas Trial S. victress Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) defeated Kieran Cotter's Matilda Picotte (Ire) (Sioux Nation) by 2 1/2 lengths at Leopardstown earlier this month.

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Frankel’s Hans Andersen Back On Top

Just a notch below the top at two, TDN Rising Star Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Shadow Hunter {Ire}, by Arcano {Ire}) enjoyed the ideal confidence boost on his return in a depleted renewal of Leopardstown's G3 Ballylinch Stud “Red Rocks” 2,000 Guineas Trial S. on Sunday. Second in the G2 Futurity S. at The Curragh in August and fifth in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. back at that venue when last seen the following month, the 8-13 favourite was held up early by Ryan Moore as fellow Ballydoyle runner Carracci (Quality Road) supplied the pace. Sent forward early in the straight, the Westerberg colour-bearer took over a furlong out and stayed on strongly to score by 2 1/2 lengths from Bold Discovery (Bolt D'Oro), with Caracci three lengths back in third.

“Seven was plenty short enough for him last year and although we always felt he'd be happy at a mile we had others to slot in to those races so kept him too short,” Aidan O'Brien explained after welcoming his ninth winner of this prep. “It was my fault–he should have gone up to a mile and we think he'll get further than a mile this year. The plan is the French or Irish Guineas and maybe a French Derby.”

Pedigree Notes
Hans Andersen, who earned his TDN Rising Star tag when beating the subsequent National S. winner Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) at The Curragh in July, is the second foal out of the Listed Roses S. scorer and G3 Cornwallis S.-placed Shadow Hunter. She is a granddaughter of Cliveden Stud's stakes-placed Enemy Action (Forty Niner), a half-sister to the G2 Champagne S. and G2 Richmond S.-winning sire Daggers Drawn (Diesis {GB}) who produced the G3 Fred Darling S. runner-up and G1 1000 Guineas third Super Sleuth (Ire) (Selkirk). Also from the family of the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Indian Haven (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), the G1 Gran Criterium scorer Count Dubois (GB) (Zafonic) and the G1 St Leger runner-up Kite Wood (Ire) by Frankel's sire Galileo (Ire), Shadow Hunter has a 2-year-old full-brother to Hans Andersen named Alonzo (GB).

Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland
BALLYLINCH STUD RED ROCKS 2,000 GUINEAS TRIAL S.-G3, €55,000, Leopardstown, 4-2, 3yo, c/g, 7f 18yT, 1:38.03, hy.
1–HANS ANDERSEN (GB), 131, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
     1st Dam: Shadow Hunter (Ire) (SW & GSP-Eng), by Arcano (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Sweet Irish (GB), by Shamardal
     3rd Dam: Enemy Action, by Forty Niner
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. TDN Rising Star. (450,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Westerberg,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,D Smith; B-Sun Bloodstock SARL (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €33,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Ire, 5-2-2-0, $82,326. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Bold Discovery, 131, c, 3, Bolt D'Oro–Caribbean Babe, by Arch. ($50,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Marc Chan; B-Chc Inc. (KY); T-Jessica Harrington. €11,000.
3–Carracci, 131, c, 3, Quality Road–Butterflies (Ire), by Galileo (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP TYPE. O-M Tabor/D Smith/Mrs.J Magnier/Westerberg; B-Orpendale/Wynatt/Chelston (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. €5,500.
Margins: 2HF, 3, 2HF. Odds: 0.62, 2.25, 5.00.
Also Ran: Empty Metaphor (Ire), Eyeeye (GB). Scratched: Sea Chariot (GB), Signatory (Ire).

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