Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches History: The French One Thousand Guineas

Last winner: Mangoustine (f3, FRA by Dark Angel ex Zotilla, by Zamindar), Owned by Infinity Nine Horses, Écurie des Monceaux, Qatar Racing Ltd & Alexandre Giannotti, bred by Écurie des Monceaux, Lordship Stud & Qatar Bloodstock Ltd, trained by Mikel Delzangles, ridden by Gérald Mossé.

Record-time (main course): 1’34’’7 by Flotilla in 2013.

The race will be run in 2023 for the 136th time

The 2022 edition

May 15, 2022, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - A promising third for her seasonal return in the Prix de la Grotte (Gr3), Mangoustine (Dark Angel) scored in the real thing as the French filly won the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Gr1) beating a tough Newmarket 2,000 Guineas winner Cachet (Aclaim).

Steered by Gérald Mossé, who should soon start a new career as a trainer, the filly is owned by Infinity Nine Horses, former NBA player Tony Parker's stable, associated with Écurie des Monceaux, Qatar Racing Ltd and Alexandre Giannotti. She travelled outside the field led by Cachet and Who Knows (Siyouni) and kept going to the wire, finally getting the better of a brave Cachet, a neck ahead of Times Square (Zarak), always spotted behind the leaders, while the tote favourite, the Prix de la Grotte-winner Rosacea (Soldier Hollow), failed to accelerate again after a bumpy ride inside.

It was Mangoustine's 5th run and her 4th win, a first at Gr1 level. It was also her second run of the season and for Chantilly trainer Mikel Delzangles, also trainer of her dam's sister Flotilla (Mizzen Mast), a Breeders’Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Gr1) winner. Like her, Zotilla (Zamindar), Mangoustin's sister, 5th in her only race, is out of Louvain (Sinndar), a Listed-placed in France and a Gr3 winner Stateside. Mangoustine was bought for € 46,000 at Arqana. Last december, her older, unraced sister was sold in foal to Galiway and fetched €120,000, paid by Arthur Hoyeau and Infinity Nine Horses. Like her, Mangoustine was bred in France by Écurie des Monceaux, Lordship Stud and Qatar Bloodstock Ltd.

History

Restricted to 3-year-old fillies over one mile, the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches is the French equivalent of the One Thousand Guineas in England, which also take place in early May, but in Newmarket on a straight course and not at Longchamp with a bend.

Traditionally, these events open the 3-year-olds' Classics season since they are the first Group 1 races of the year for the promotion. It is already a great goal in itself, however, in addition to a test for the rest of the classic crown: according to the ways the fillies will handle this first challenge, some of which have never run before on this distance, we will know if they can go further a month later over the Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks)'s 2,100 metres/10.5 furlongs trip, for example. Some, on the other hand, will have to stick for the mile, and others will return on an even shorter one.

This is the main crossroads at the start of the season, the first act in a play that continues until October ...

This event was created in 1883 when a mixed race dating from 1840 called the Poule d’Essai was split into two events – one for the colts and one for the fillies. Not held from 1915 to 1918 or in 1940, it took place at Le Tremblay in 1943, and at Maisons-Laffitte in 1944 and 1945 and Deauville in 2016, 2017 and 2020 because of the renovation at Longchamp or the coronavirus disease that delayed the event by almost a month. Since 1987, it has been run over the main course, except in 2018 when it returned to ParisLongchamp after a 2-year hiatus and was tried over the middle course again.

In 2006 and 2010, the finish order was modified after the race. In 2006, Price Tag was relegated to third place for having impeded the second-placed Impressionnante. In 2010, Liliside was relegated from first to sixth place for having hindered several participants, including Lady of the Desert, who was finally awarded fifth place. The race produced a dead heat once, in 1949 between Coronation and her stablemate Galgala. The highest number of starters was in 1912 when 19 went to post. 18 lined up in 1924, 1986 and 2016, and 17 in 2002. The lowest number of starters recorded is 3, in 1890, while 6 horses took part in 1885, 1888, 1892, 1910, 1937, 1944, 1950 and 1980.

The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and the Prix de Diane Longines

The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches constitutes the benchmark event for the Prix de Diane Longines and the double of these two races has been done by twenty-five fillies, who can be regarded as the finest performers of their generation: Barberine (1885), Wandora (1890), Primrose (1891), Roxelane (1897), Semendria (1900), La Camargo (1901), Kizil Kourgan (1902), Rose de Mai (1903), Flowershop (1920), Fairy Legend (1927), Pearl Cap (1931), Féerie (1938), Caravelle (1943), Nikellora (1945), Corteira (1948), Apollonia (1956), Timandra (1960), La Sega (1962), Gazala (1967), Allez France (1973), Madelia (1977), East of the Moon (1994), Divine Proportions (2005), Zarkava (2008) and Golden Lilac (2011).

Also, thirty-one winners of the Poule d'Essai have finished second or third in the Prix de Diane: Stockholm (1883, 2nd), Yvrande (1884, 2nd), Sakountala (1886, 3rd), Ténébreuse (1887, 3rd), Calcéolaire (1894, 2nd), Andrée (1895, 2nd), Riposte (1896, 2nd), Saïs (1906, 2nd), Sauge Pourprée (1908, 2nd), Vellica (1910, 3rd), Porte Maillot (1912, 2nd), Banshee (1913, 3rd), Diavolezza (1914, 3rd), Rose Thé (1930, 2nd), Ligne de Fond (1932, 2nd), Mary Tudor (1934, 2nd), Longthanh (1941, 2nd), Esméralda (1942, 2nd), Corejada (1950, 2nd), Pomaré (1952, 3rd), Hurnli (1953, 3rd), Toro (1957, 3rd), Pola Bella (1968, 2nd), Pampered Miss (1970, 3rd), Riverqueen (1976, 2nd), Three Troikas (1979, 2nd), Aryenne (1980, 2nd), Miesque (1987, 2nd), Matiara (1995, 2nd), Musical Chimes (2003, 3rd), Beauty Parlour (2012, 2nd).

Also noteworthy are the sixteen fillies who, after coming second or third in the Poule d'Essai, have made up for their disappointment by winning the Prix de Diane: Bavarde (1887, 3rd), Annita (1892, 2nd), Kasbah (1895, 2nd), Profane (1904, 2nd), Marsa (1910, 2nd), Qu'elle est Belle II (1912, 3rd), Moïa (1913, 2nd), Dorina (1926, 2nd), Mary Legend (1928, 3rd), Mistress Ford (1936, 2nd), Pirette (1946, 3rd), Montenica (1947, 2nd), Stratonice (1951, 3rd), Tahiti (1954, 2nd), Caerlina (1991, 3rd), and Carling (1995, 2nd).

Partnerships

This race, like the corresponding race for colts, was sponsored from 1986 to 2001 by Dubai, one of the seven states of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). From 2002 to 2006, Gainsborough, the name assigned by Sheik Maktoum Al Maktoum (who died on January 4, 2006) to his stud farms located in Berkshire (Great Britain) and in Kentucky (USA), took over. Abu Dhabi, via the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, becomes a partner of the two races in 2017, then the United Arab Emirates via the term Emirates from 2018.

Foreign winners 

Six overseas participants have been victorious –– the first only in 1992, England’s Culture Vulture. Four of her compatriots have since emulated her: Ta Rib (1996), Valentine Waltz (1999), Zenda (2002) and Teppal (2018); along with Ireland’s Rose Gypsy (2001).

Owners

• Marcel Boussac (8 wins) : Esméralda (1942), Caravelle (1943), Palencia (1944), Corteira (1948), Coronation & Galgala (dead-heat in 1949), Corejada (1950), Djelfa (1951), Apollonia (1956).
• Rothschild Family (8 wins): Diavolezza (1914) and Féerie (1938) for Maurice, Flowershop (1920), Nephthys (1921), La Dame de Trèfle (1925) and Ligne de Fond (1932) for Edouard, Dictaway (1955) and Timandra (1960) for Guy.
• Aga Khan Family (7 wins): Yla (1958) and Ginetta (1959) for Aly Khan, Masarika (1984), Zalaiyka (1998), Zarkava (2008), Ervediya (2015) for Aga Khan IV, Darjina (2007) for Zahra Aga Khan.
• François Dupré (4 wins): Yonne (1939), Virgule (1954), Solitude (1961) and La Sega (1962).
• Wildenstein Family (5 wins): Allez France (1973), Madelia (1977) and Danseuse du Soir (1991) pour Daniel, Beauty Parlour (2012) for Écurie Wildenstein.
• Edmond Blanc (3 wins): Andrée (1895), Saïs (1906) and Porte Maillot (1912).
• Mrs Alec Head (3 wins): Riverqueen (1976), Three Troikas (1979) and Silvermine (1985).
• Stavros Niarchos & Niarchos Family (3 wins): Miesque (1987), East of the Moon (1994) and Divine Proportions (2005).

Trainers

• Charles Semblat (7 wins): Esméralda (1942), Caravelle (1943), Palencia (1944), Corteira (1948), Coronation and Galgala (1949), Corejada (1950) and Djelfa (1951).
• Christiane Head (7 wins): Three Troikas (1979), Silvermine (1985), Baiser Volé (1986), Ravinella (1988), Matiara (1995), Always Loyal (1997) and Special Duty (2010).
• François Mathet (5 wins): Virgule (1954), Solitude (1961), La Sega (1962), Pola Bella (1968) and Koblenza (1969).
• Alec Head (5 wins): Toro (1957), Yla (1958), Ginetta (1959), Ivanjica (1975) and Dancing Maid (1978).
• Jean-Claude Rouget (5 wins): Elusive Wave (2009), Avenir Certain (2014), Ervediya (2015), La Cressonnière (2016), Cœursamba (2021).
• Frank Carter (4 wins): Rebia (1924), Roahouga (1928), Pearl Cap (1931) and Bipearl (1933).
• François Boutin (4 wins): River Lady (1982), Miesque (1987), Madeleine's Dream (1993) and East of the Moon (1994).
• Alain de Royer-Dupré (4 wins): Masarika (1984), Zalaiyka (1998), Darjina (2007) and Zarkava (2008).

Riders

• Freddy Head (8 wins): Ivanjica (1975), Riverqueen (1976), Dancing Maid (1978), Three Troikas (1979), Silvermine (1985), Miesque (1987), Matiara (1995), Always Loyal (1997).
• Yves Saint-Martin (7 wins): Solitude (1961), La Sega (1962), Pola Bella (1968), Koblenza (1969), Allez France (1973), Madelia (1977), Masarika (1984). 
• Roger Poincelet (5 wins): Corteira (1948), Coronation (1949), Hurnli (1953), Altissima (1963), La Sarre (1965). 
• Christophe Soumillon (5 wins): Musical Chimes (2003), Darjina (2007), Zarkava (2008), Beauty Parlour (2012), Ervedya (2015).