The Emirates Poules d’Essai des Poulains and Pouliches launch the flat racing Grand Prix season
Press release Friday, May 8, 2026
Sunday, 10 May 2026 at ParisLongchamp
The Emirates Poules d’Essai des Poulains and Pouliches launch the flat racing Grand Prix season
These two Group 1 races — the highest level of excellence in horse racing — are reserved for the elite of three-year-old thoroughbreds and attract horses from across Europe. Their purpose is to identify the best horse of his or her generation, with a sporting and breeding objective of selection.
The course for both races, over 1,600 metres — one English mile — requires both speed and stamina, the qualities sought in a racehorse. The logical next step, at least for those showing potential aptitude over a longer distance, will be the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club and the Prix de Diane Longines, both run over 2,100 metres in June at Chantilly.
QUOTES FROM THE CONNECTIONS
- Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains
Nemone Routh, racing manager of Aga Khan Studs, owner of Rayif – Chantilly Training Centre (60)
“Rayif worked very well on Tuesday morning. He reassured us, and I really felt that we were seeing the horse we know again. We simply hope that the ground will not be too soft, as he is clearly more effective on a fast track. If he did not make his seasonal reappearance earlier, it is because he had not fully convinced us in his final piece of work before the Prix de Fontainebleau. We were coming out of a slightly difficult period at the yard, with several horses not running as well. We therefore preferred to give him time. Today, he is back to his best level in training, which is encouraging. He is a straightforward, well-made horse with a very good turn of foot. His best performances have in fact come on good ground, such as his victory in the Aga Khan Studs Prix François Boutin (Group 3) at Deauville. In the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Group 1), where he finished third, he ran well, but his acceleration was less decisive, probably because of the ground. On Sunday, he will be tackling 1,600 metres for the first time. That does not particularly worry us, as he is a relaxed horse who does not pull and knows how to settle before producing his turn of foot. The big unknown remains the weather. If it rains a lot and the ground becomes very soft, without a prep run, that could make things more complicated.”
Mauricio Delcher Sanchez, trainer of Mijas and Khovikhov – Chantilly Training Centre (60)
“It is obviously very exciting to have two runners in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains. Mijas and Khovikhov may not be the best horses of the generation, but they both come into the race in very good condition and off the back of good performances. Their owners want to take their chance, so we go there with ambition. Mijas is smaller than Khovikhov, but very tenacious. He is a supple horse, with a real turn of foot and, above all, a great deal of courage. He has already raced a lot, he is experienced and he is not afraid in the pack. That is an asset in this type of race. He is able to slip through, find the right gaps and react quickly when asked. He will be ridden by Cristian Demuro.
We have always held Khovikhov in high regard. His first run of the year was a little disappointing, which made us question things, but his latest race, in the Prix Aymeri de Mauléon (Listed), reassured us. He finished second after a complicated trip, a bad draw and a lot of effort made early in the race. I sincerely believe that with a more favourable run, he could have won. Physically, he is a very well-made horse with great ease in his action. He comes here in excellent form and with experience. I am not certain that he has what it takes to win, but I am convinced he can acquit himself very well. He seems mature enough for this type of race. The ParisLongchamp course is always particular, with the start close to the bend and phases where positioning is important, but he is a handy horse who should be able to adapt. Clément Lecœuvre will ride him.”
Pierre-Yves Bureau, manager of the Wertheimer & Frère stable, owner of Nighttime and Elastic – Chantilly Training Centre (60)
“The two colts ran very well in the Prix de Fontainebleau. I sincerely think they still had a little in hand that day and that they will arrive at 100% on Sunday. They know ParisLongchamp, they are not particularly ground-dependent, so we are fairly confident beforehand. Nighttime, in particular, has changed enormously over the winter. He is developing into a very handsome colt and I absolutely do not think that his two-year-old season has left any mark on him. On the contrary, he seems to have taken his races very well. He made an excellent reappearance and I think he will improve again from that. Elastic is also at his peak for this target. Both arrive in very good physical condition. Now, of course, we will have to deal with important factors such as the draw and the way the race unfolds. Maxime Guyon will ride Nighttime and Stéphane Pasquier will be on Elastic.”
Victoria Head, trainer of Wootton Centurion – Chantilly Training Centre (60)
“I am pleased to have a horse of this level. We know these are very competitive races, but the horse has won both his races, so we are entitled to take our chance. I could have stepped him up in trip, but I preferred to stay at a mile. He is not a very demonstrative horse, but so far he has always done what has been asked of him. In a race that can be quite tactical, it is an advantage that he is easy to ride and can go forward. We will see especially at the draw. Aurélien Lemaitre will ride him. The horse has worked recently, notably in a public gallop at Longchamp about ten days ago. He behaved well that day, even though conditions will be different on Sunday. The ground will be a factor to take into account, but he has already won on sticky ground, so that is not a real concern. He is an unflappable horse.”
Karl Burke, trainer of Hankelow – England
“Hankelow is in great form. Rain would be welcome for him and I am looking forward to seeing him run. I think he is a quality horse who could appreciate a slightly longer distance, but 1,600 metres on soft ground is a good starting point.”
- Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches
Nemone Routh, racing manager of Aga Khan Studs, owner of Narissa – Chantilly Training Centre (60)
“Narissa worked well last Tuesday. Her latest race, in the Prix de la Grotte (Group 3), is very interesting, especially as the form has since been confirmed — the winner, Evolutionist, having finished second in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Narissa is a filly who absolutely has to be covered up in order to show her full ability. She has a real turn of foot and seems capable of adapting to different types of ground, even though she may be slightly better on good ground. Here again, the draw will be decisive in optimising her run…”
Pierre-Yves Bureau, manager of the Wertheimer & Frère stable, owner of Green Spirit – Chantilly Training Centre (60)
“Everything went wrong on her reappearance in the Prix de la Grotte (Group 3): she had to make an effort to bring the field along, exactly the scenario we wanted to avoid. She should absolutely not be judged on that. The filly has developed well over the winter. She is not very big, but she has strengthened and has a lot of depth. Above all, she has a very good turn of foot. The aim will be to give her the best possible trip so that she can use it fully. Like the two colts, she comes into this race very well. They are handy and experienced horses. In Poules d’Essai races that are often very well subscribed, that experience can represent a real advantage.”
Satoshi Kobayashi, trainer of Showna – Chantilly Training Centre (60)
“Showna comes here off a victory in one of the trials, the Prix Imprudence (Group 3), and she worked very well on Wednesday morning with Marvin Grandin. That is why we decided to supplement her. The question of whether she will stay the mile may arise, but I think she can be effective. She really took a step forward over the winter. Her way of galloping has improved and I think she can continue to progress. Her strengths for a race like the Poule are her speed and experience. She is capable of taking up a good position and finishing quickly, and she will not be bothered by a strong pace. These are important qualities at this level. It would be a first for me in this race. It is obviously a motivating objective. Regarding the ground, I would prefer it not to be too heavy. She will be better on a fairly fast track. For now, the forecasts remain uncertain, so we will have to see how things develop between now and Sunday.”
Chris Wall, manager of Victorious Forever, owner of Zanthos – England
“Zanthos is in good form. We bypassed the 1,000 Guineas in England because she needed a little time to truly come to herself this year. But she is now in very good condition and she has worked well. All the lights are green. Our only slight concern is the ground, because there has been a lot of rain in Paris and the track could be soft, which probably would not suit her.
Last year, no doubt because she came from the breeze-ups, she was always quite keen and wanted to do everything too quickly. She is more relaxed now, which will give her every chance of staying the distance. But it remains an unknown and, until we have tried, we will not know for certain.
Her record has been almost faultless since she was bought. She was beaten once on her second start, but that taught us that day that she was simply too keen and had not given herself the opportunity to produce her best. The filly who beat her that day was good — Touleen ran well in the Guineas the other day. There was no disgrace in being beaten by that filly.
But apart from that, Zanthos has been faultless. She won her maiden and her Group 2 with authority. We are looking forward to seeing her again this year. And she has progressed, so we are very confident that there is still more to come from her. But over what distance will she be at her best? We have to go racing to find out.”
Henri-François Devin, trainer of Maintain – Chantilly Training Centre (60)
“There should be some very good foreign fillies in the line-up. As far as Maintain is concerned, we are bringing her back in trip to follow the logic of the programme and go for the mile of the Poule d’Essai. But she may be stepped up in distance later on. The trip does not worry me more than that; she can very well run over 1,600 metres, but she will certainly be better over a little further later on…”
Yann Lerner, co-trainer of The Last Dance – Maisons-Laffitte Training Centre (78)
“The Last Dance will not be inconvenienced by eased ground. She has done good work on soft tracks. Her debut was excellent, and her second run was just as good. On paper, she has two races and two wins: it is difficult to fault her in any way. We simply have to congratulate her on what she has achieved so far! She comes into this for her third race, which is a very positive point in my view. We know how important the draw is in the Poules d’Essai, so we will need a good stall number. Ideally, between 2 and 5 would suit me perfectly. We have a filly in great form.”
Mikel Delzangles, trainer of Fashion City – Chantilly Training Centre (60)
“Fashion City is well, very well even. She has progressed since her last race, which gives her a chance to take part in the Poule d’Essai in good conditions. She comes out of a solid performance in the Prix du Louvre. She was bumped during the race. It was not a question of tractability: she was well placed, but a rival on the inside suddenly shifted out and hampered her. Her jockey preferred to take her back and place her behind. She then finished very well, which makes it a positive experience. She now has a little experience. She handles all types of ground. If there are many runners, which I think there will be, it would still be better to have a good draw. With pace in the race, as seems likely, that could play to her advantage.”
Pauline Chehboub, representative of Gousserie Racing, owner of Baklawa – Calas-Cabriès Training Centre (13)
“We realised in her latest race, in the Prix Imprudence, that she did not adapt to the straight course and was looking for the bend. The forecast rain will absolutely not bother her — quite the opposite: it will serve her interests. A Listed winner at three, she seems to us to be in good form. We are taking our chance in this Group 1: she has speed and should appreciate the course. Antonio Orani will ride her. We are hoping for the best! She will be interesting to follow against such opposition.”
