31 May 2020
Photos scoopdyga.com
This 133rd edition of the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas, Gr1) is, like the colts' version, extraordinary for four reasons. First, it takes place almost a month later than usual. Then, it takes place in Deauville, just as it did during the Longchamp renovation works, in 2016 and in 2017. In addition, it is restricted to colts trained in France, as the borders remain closed to foreign horses. Last but not least, it takes place behind closed doors, a prerequisite for race meetings to take place at the moment.
The only real prep race was the Prix de la Grotte (Gr3), won by Tropbeau (Showcasing) in front of Dream and Do (Siyouni) and Tickle Me Green (Sea the Moon), who all found themselves again at the start, facing new foes …
- 1. SIMEEN (f3, FRA by Lope de Vega and Samadrisa, by Oasis Dream) Rating: 101lbs
Bred by her owner, Simeen (Lope de Vega) is undefeated in three outings. She' the first foal out of the winner Samadrisa (Oasis Dream), a sister to champion mare Sarafina (Refuse to Bend), winner of the Saint-Alary (Gr1), the Diane (French Oaks, Gr1) and the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Gr1 ), third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and broodmare in Japan. She notably produced Geniale (Deep Impact) over there, who came to win a Prix Messidor (Gr3) in France.
On the day of her Saint-Cloud debut last year in June, Simeen outclassed her rivals and won by three and a half lengths under pouring rain. She then confirmed at Clairefontaine in a class 2 race, and for her return, this year, starting over one mile and once again waiting for the last straight to make her move. She didn't win by much, but rather safely, is workmanlike.
She is entered in the Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) and the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).
- 2. TROPBEAU (f3, GB by Showcasing and Frangipanni, by Dansili) Rating: 111lbs
Purchased for € 180,000 at the breeze-up sales in Deauville, Tropbeau (Showcasing) started with a sixth place but immediately redeemed herself at Clairefontaine, then in the Sky Sports Racing Prix Six Perfections (Gr3), and again in the Shadwell Prix du Calvados (Gr2) before concluding with a third place in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (Gr1) in Newmarket.
For her comeback this season in the Prix de la Grotte (Gr3), the top prep race for this, she won by half a length but quite safely. Bred in Great Britain by Alastair John Morrison, the filly is the first foal out of Frangipanni (Dansili), a winner over 6 and 7 furlongs for Serena Dunn Rothschild, and herself out of the fast Frizzante (Efisio), a winner of the July Cup (Gr1).
She is entered in the Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) and the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).
3. TICKLE ME GREEN (f3, GER by Sea the Moon and Tickle Me Pink, by Groom Dancer) Rating: 101lbs
Bred by her owners in Germany, Tickle Me Green (Sea the Moon) won in Hanover, then took second place in the Preis der Winterkönigin (Gr3) in Baden-Baden before concluding her first season with a fourth place in Krefeld, in another Group 3, over an extended mile. She has just passed under the training of André Fabre and started in France for the first time in the traditional prep race, the Prix de la Grotte (Gr3). She did not give way easily and kept a promising third place, beaten by a head.
She is entered in the Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) and the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).
4. MARIETA (f3, FR by Siyouni and Macarella, by Shamardal) Rating: 109lbs
Bred by her owners, Marieta (Siyouni) has not run this year yet but caused a sensation last season, even if she won only once, for her second outing, in a maiden. That day, she led and completely annihilated the field, winning by eight lengths. Trained by Mauricio Delcher-Sanchez, she had had to settle for second place for her debut, also at Maisons-Laffitte, over 5.5 furlongs. She then took second place in the Shadwell Prix du Calvados (Gr2), two and a half lengths behind Tropbeau, then again finished second in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr1), behind the Irish raider Albigna, who won by two and a half lengths, like Tropbeau before her.
Marieta is out of Macarella, who also ran for Madrid's José Maria Maldonado (Cuadra Mediterraneo) and has already given Cigalera (Elusive City), third in May 2019 of the Prix Texanita (Gr3) over 6 furlongs. Macarella, bought as a weanling for £ 52,000 in England, is from the family of Satwa Queen and Spadoun, both Group 1 winners. She won once over 6 furlongs at Fontainebleau, also for trainer Mauricio Delcher.
5. MAGEVA (f3, GB by Wootton Bassett and Melilot, by Elusive City) Rating: 97lbs
Mageva is the first foal out of Melilot (Elusive City). She was purchased for € 75,000 by bloodstock agent Hubert Guy, who is now one of her owners, at the Arqana sales in August 2018.
She won her first race, in July at Deauville at 2, by taking the lead and attacking early in the last straight, despite her leaning on her left. Third after that, she finished the year with a fifth place in the Prix Miesque (Gr3) won by Dream and Do, whom she finds again here.
Mageva has just returned to competition by taking a good second place behind Arapaho, a runner in the French 2,000 Guineas on the same card, whom she pushed all the way to the post.
Her dam did not win but she is a sister to Pride Dancer (Fasliyev), winner of the Prix Herod (L) over 7 furlongs at Longchamp then third in the Senorita Stakes (Gr3) in California.
She is entered in the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).
6. DÉSOBÉISSANCE (f3, FRA by Kodiac and Collada, by Desert Prince) Rating: -
Désobéissance (Kodiac) was sold for € 77,000 yearling in Deauville in August, then € 75,000 at 2 at the Arqana breeze-ups. She is a sister to Cai Shen (Iffraaj), twice in the frame of the Winter Derby (Gr3) on the Lingfield all-weather track. Both are out of the JUddmonte-bred Collada (Desert Prince), sold maiden for £6,500, even though her family is also the one of champions Suntrap, Sunshack and Polish Summer.
She started her career this winter in Cagnes with a fourth place over 6.5 furlongs. For her second attempt, ten days ago in Deauville, she gradually went headway and won by less than a length, in extremis, on Jamilya.
7. DREAM AND DO (f3, IRE by Siyouni and Venetias Dream, by Librettist) Rating: 101lbs
Bred by her owners, who bought her back €80,000 at the yearling sales, Dream and Do (Siyouni) was only beaten by the good Savarin for her debut, and then no longer suffered defeat, winning at Marseille, then at Maisons-Laffitte, and there again in the Prix Miesque (Gr3), her last race in 2019.
In the Prix de la Grotte (Gr3), for her comeback, she fought hard to deny Tropbeau after following her but finally had to give way.
Dream and Do's dam is a sister to the dam of the triple Group 1 winner over the mile and sire Charm Spirit (Invincible Spirit).
She is entered in the Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) and the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).
8. YOMAGI (f3, FRA by Zoffany and Desert Red, by Green Desert) Rating: 93lbs
Bought € 6,000 a the yearling sales in Deauville, Yomagi (Zoffany) has already run ten times and got eight différent checks in the process, for a total amount of € 61,803, but she has never won! On the other hand, she finished third last October in the Prix Miesque (Gr3) behind Dream and Do, who had already beaten her in their previous race. Fourth for her return on all-weather this season, she was fifth in the Prix du Pont-Neuf (L) over 7 furlongs, two lengths behind Arapaho and Mageva, two Guineas contenders too.
She never ran over the mile.
9. MY LOVE’S PASSION (f3, FRA by Elvstroem and Amber Two, by Cadeaux Genereux) Rating: 101lbs
Sold € 10,000 at the Deauville yearlings sales to her trainer, My Love's Passion (Elsvtroem) now races for a syndicate whom she has pleased a lot. She won for her debut and finished in the top three at each of her five outings at 2, notably in the Darley Prix Robert Papin (Gr2). Away from July to March, she finished third for her return in a Listed race over 5.5 furlongs and has just confirmed over 6 furlongs in the Prix Texanita (Gr3), taking third place after leaning to the inside rail when the whole field had gone to the stands side. This is her first test here over more than 6 furlongs though.
10. SPEAK OF THE DEVIL (f3, FRA by Wootton Bassett and Moranda, by Indian Rocket) Rating: 101lbs
Bred by Hervé Viallon in Calvados, Speak of the Devil (Wootton Bassett) was sold as a weanling by the Haras des Trois Rivières in Deauville, and then bought by Meridian International (Ghislain Bozo). She reappeared at the Deauville sales as a yearling, where she was sold by Haras d'Etreham to Fabrice Chappet for € 62,000.
Winner for her debut, on a very heavy turf mile, at Deauville in October, she had been able to gain ground along the rail and outstayed Perle d'Ivoire.
For her return this year, May 11 at ParisLongchamp over a mile, Speak of the Devil didn't have a clear run and finished strongly, two and a half lengths from Shinning Ocean, supplemented since in the Poulains (Gr1).
She is entered in the Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) and the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).
11. EMOJI (f3, GER by Soldier Hollow and Exotic Rose, by Manduro) Rating: 101lbs
Bred in Germany, she won her first race in Baden-Baden by 14 lengths, then was imported to France, where she started last March with a very clear victory also in the Prix La Camargo (L), notably beating Galova and Leilani.
In the Prix Vanteaux (Gr3), on May 14 at ParisLongchamp over 9 furlongs, ran flat when the winner Magic Attitude shifted into high gear to win of two lengths. Emoji narrowly resisted Flighty Lady for second place, the latter failing by just a short head.
Her trainer has since declared that she was in season that day and implied that the race should only be discarded. Emoji is also “shortened” here from 9 to 8 furlongs.
She is entered in the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).
12. ELLERSLIE LACE (f3, FRA, by Siyouni and Indian Wells, by Sadler’s Wells) Rating: 96lbs
With Yomogi, she is the only one in the lot who has not yet won. Bred by her owners, she missed her first race in September, but finished third thereafter, before taking second place in the Prix Herod (L) in heavy ground over 7 furlongs in November. For her return, in the Prix de la Grotte (Gr3), she finished well after having travelled in the rear and took fourth place, way behind the first three.
She is entered in the Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) and the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).