The purists may say the Guineas at Newmarket is the final of the juvenile season, but in Paris the Emirates Poule d’Essai is ‘The Foals Fabulous Destiny.’
As Aiden O’Brien stated ‘I probably treated him like too much of a god during the winter’ on City of Troy’s defeat in the 2000 Guineas, but what of Henry Longfellow for the des Poulains.
With both Henry Longfellow and City of Troy homebred by Coolmore, or ‘hen chicks’ as Poule dEssai says, it was Henry Longfellow taking out the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes as a juvenile.
However, champion jockey Ryan Moore decided to ride Henry Longfellow in the National Stakes on the soft-yearling Curragh track, as he did in the Futurity Stakes and a Curragh 7f maiden.
With ParisLongchamp to have a soft racing surface suitable to Henry Longfellow, it was the firmer Newmarket track for City of Troy with victory in the Dewhurst and Superlative Stakes.
In this his first 3yo start, he’ll again be ridden by Ryan Moore in the blue and orange silks of Michael Tabot, along with Mrs John Magnier and Derrick Smith in their famous Coolmore partnership.
Priced as $2.10 race favourite with Ladbrokes, he’ll start from Gate 6 of 13 again with Ryan Moore, and is homebred by Coolmore, sired by Dubawi who had Notable Speech win the 2000 Guineas.
In being from a classic family, his Oaks winning Galileo dam Minding is full-sister to Oaks winner Tuesday, and full-sister to Irish 1000 Guineas winners Empress Josaphine, Kissed By Angels.
However, its Aiden O’Brien who also has Diego Velazuez in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains, and to be ridden by Christopher Soumillon for Coolmore, last winning the Jubilee Stakes.
Quoted a $12 chance, he was a 2.4m Gns. buy at the 2022 Tattersalls October Sale, and by the legendary Frankel is half-brother to the top-class Broome, the family of the successful Zoffany.
Priced as the $6.50 second pick is the Christopher Head trained Ramadan who will again be ridden by Aurelien Lemaitre, won twice this season at 1600m including the Prix de Fountamebleau.
With the stable suffering the defeat of Ramatuelle in the 1000 Guineas, its Ramadan who knows the 1600m of the des Poulains, being by Le Havre from the family of Invincible Spirit, Mishriff.
At $8 is the Yann Barberot trained Beauvatier to be ridden by Maxime Guyon with Ebden Shaddad at $9.50 with betting apps for Kieran Shoemark and $10 Dancing Gemini with Dylan Brown Mcmonagle.
In viewing the success of the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains that’s for 3yo’s run over 1600m, it’s the rise to fame of 37 year-old Christorher Head who is looking for his first race success.
In last year having Blue Rose Cen win the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches as his first classic, it was his jockey father Freddie Head who won this race six times, first with Green Dancer in 1975.
In being the fifth-generation of the Head Family, it was his family members of William, Alex, Freddie and Criquette who partnered 11 ‘Arc de Triomphe winners between 1947 and 2014.
Even younger and equally successful is George Boughey who is looking for his first des Pouliches success with Chic Colombine who last won a 1600m listed St-Cloud event by 6 lengths.
Again to be ridden by Billy Loughnane, and at $16, she’ll jump from the outside in Gate 15 for Highclere Racing, who in 2022 had Cachet run second having wo the 1000 Guineas.
In an open market its Godolphin’s Romantic Style who is $9.50 with William Bick for Charlie Appleby, while Louise Protector is $4 with Christian Demuro and $6 Content for Ryan Moore.
