Quotes from connections for the: Emirates Poules d’Essai des Poulains Emirates Poules d’Essai des Pouliches, The President of the UAE Cup
QUOTES FROM CONNECTIONS FOR THE:
Emirates Poules d’Essai des Poulains Emirates Poules d’Essai des Pouliches
The President of the UAE Cup
The Flat Racing Grand Prix Season Kicks Off Sunday
Emirates Poules d’Essai des Poulains and Pouliches: these two Group 1 races — the pinnacle of Thoroughbred competition — are reserved for the elite of Europe’s three-year-old Thoroughbreds. Their aim is to determine the best colt or filly of the generation, with a view toward genetic selection for breeding. Both contests are run over 1,600 meters (a mile), requiring a mix of speed and stamina — the core qualities sought in racehorses. For those who prove their ability over further distances, the next steps are the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club and the Prix de Diane Longines, both run over 2,100 meters.
On the same day, The President of the UAE Cup, a Group 1 race for Purebred Arabians aged 4 and older, will also take place. These horses, more robust and enduring than their Thoroughbred descendants, are slightly slower but renowned for their toughness. They are true globe-trotters, often competing in the Gulf region during winter. Indeed, most of Sunday’s runners have already raced this season in Qatar, Saudi Arabia or the UAE, making this one of the first major European contests for them.
QUOTES FROM CONNECTIONS
1 - Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains
Christopher Head (Chantilly training center, Oise)
Trainer of Houquetot and Dos Mukasan
“Houquetot didn’t arrive in my stable long ago, but the work done beforehand meant we had a horse already in good condition. I think this system of working as a team, with mutual understanding and trust, is probably the future. It’s a challenge to make a seasonal return in the Poule d’Essai, but his owners like this kind of challenge and it’s a pleasure to try and take it on for them. Houquetot has really worked well and I think he’s capable of running a very good race on Sunday. I can’t wait to see him out there!
Dos Mukasan had already shown his quality as a 2-year-old. I used the Prix du Louvre to prepare for the Poule d’Essai. It’s a good race for horses that take a bit of time to come to hand, which was his case. He won very well, and Cristian Demuro was delighted with him. Since then, he’s improved even more. His cardio data is excellent. Everything is on track to head to the Poule.”
Jean-Claude Rouget (Pau training center, Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
Trainer of Tipinso
“Tipinso is a very good horse. Based on what he’s done since the start of his career, he deserves his place. Last time out, in Toulouse, when he finished second in the Prix Aymeri de Mauléon, I was very pleased with his performance. Of course, he’s not yet proven at the highest level. But he’ll benefit from his experience. I just hope he gets a good draw, because that’s important at Longchamp.”
Barry Mahon (Racing manager of Juddmonte, England)
Owner of Jonquil and Detain
“Jonquil won the Greenham Stakes (Group 3) in very good style, beating Rashabar. We quickly thought about the Poule d’Essai for him. Partly because we already had Field of Gold for the Guineas, but mainly because we believe the Longchamp course, with its turn, will suit him. The French Guineas also gave him an extra week between his seasonal comeback and his main target. He’s a good ground colt, so the conditions should suit him on Sunday… unless the storms return to Paris!
Detain has had a slightly different path: for his comeback, John and Thady Gosden were determined to avoid the heavy ground we often get early in the year in England. That’s why he ran on the all-weather at Chelmsford, but the race was strong, and he finished ahead of Luther, who will also be lining up on Sunday. He’s very ground-dependent: we saw when he was two, in the Futurity Trophy (Group 1), that he doesn’t handle very soft ground. He can go forward without any problem.”
Alicja Karkosa (Chantilly training center, Oise)
Trainer of Heybetli and Zarraf
“Both colts worked on Tuesday morning and everything went very well, they met our expectations. Zarraf has matured. His last race helped him improve. In his run in the Prix du Louvre, I think he lacked experience. As for Heybetli, he came out of the Prix de Fontainebleau very well. He’s an easy colt to ride and isn’t bothered by the number of runners.”
Pauline Chehboub (Racing manager of Gousserie Racing, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône)
Owner of Reach the Sky
“He’s a colt who’s always been highly regarded, serious, and who shows quality in training. We’re tempted to go for the Poule. Everything will depend on the run: we hope he’ll be mature enough to perform. But we really like him a lot. With Mr. Cottier’s training, the colts can race regularly. Let’s hope that on Sunday, his quality will make up for his lack of experience.”
Francis-Henri Graffard (Chantilly training center, Oise)
Trainer of Sahlan
“He’s come on really well since his seasonal return. I’m very pleased with the horse. Based on his performance the other day, he deserves a shot at the Poule d’Essai. He will be ridden by Maxime Guyon.”
Charlie Fellowes (Newmarket training center, England)
Trainer of Luther
“I truly believe that Luther is an underrated horse by the analysts. He only has one bad race on his record, the Royal Lodge (Group 2), but he had valid excuses: he didn’t like the very soft ground or the Rowley Mile at Newmarket. His seasonal comeback was excellent and he’s an easy horse in a race. He’s made good progress in recent weeks. I also believe he’s a colt who can step up to 2,000m. In a race that should have many runners and be strongly run, he should quickly find a good position. His draw will obviously be very important, but I remain confident that he can put in a strong performance…”
Nemone Routh (Racing Manager of the Aga Khan Studs, Chantilly training center, Oise)
Owner of Ridari
“Ridari has been doing well since his win in the Prix de Fontainebleau. Mikel Delzangles finds that the colt has calmed down, especially in his morning work. He’s a horse who can be keen, which is why he wears a hood. So it’s very positive if he’s calmer in training, and we hope he behaves the same in the afternoon.
He’s in good form. Now, there are a lot of runners, so it won’t be easy. He’s not a very straightforward horse: it’s crucial to hide him so he drops the bit. But if we get a good run, we believe he can run well.”
2 - Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches
Nemone Routh (Racing Manager of the Aga Khan Studs, Chantilly training center, Oise)
Owner of Zarigana and Mandanaba
“Zarigana has remained in great shape since her win in the Prix de la Grotte, true to herself. Obviously, this race has been a target we've been preparing for since last year. Unlike the colts, the fillies’ field is less crowded this year, which is an advantage. The filly is really doing well, and we expect a good performance from her. We know she has the class to do well.
We decided to run Mandanaba because she’s in good form and has won her first two starts. When we have two fillies that belong at this level, it’s worth running both. If Zarigana hadn’t run, Mandanaba would have taken part anyway. Now that the Saint-Alary is a Group 2, and since we’re a classic-oriented stable, we aim for the best races. She could surprise us! She’s very straightforward, easy-going, unfazed, very genuine, and will get the ground she likes. We still don’t know her limits.”
Francis-Henri Graffard (Chantilly training center, Oise)
Trainer of Zarigana and Mandanaba
“Zarigana needed her seasonal comeback. She’s really blossomed and looks magnificent. Having come on nicely from her last race, everything is in place for Sunday. Her preparation has gone without a hitch. Everything’s going well! Zarigana will be ridden by Mickaël Barzalona.
Mandanaba is a small filly, very well put together, with lots of strength. She has quality and definitely has every right to take her chance in the Poule d’Essai. Maxime Guyon will be riding Mandanaba. The shorter distance won’t be an issue for her. Princess Zahra was very supportive of running both fillies in the classic.”
Charlie Fellowes (Newmarket training center, England)
Trainer of Shes Perfect
“In the Prix de la Grotte, Shes Perfect was making her comeback and really delighted us with her performance. We knew she would improve from the race, and her recent gallops confirmed it: she’s progressed and is reaching her classic target at the right time. The field is top class, but we have a consistent, straightforward filly who always gives her best. You could say she lives up to her name!
It’s a dream to run in a classic, both for me and the owners. I think there will be about 60 supporters for her on Sunday. Before the race, I’d sign for a place in a classic: it’s very important for her value and also for the sporting pleasure…”
Nicolas Le Roch (Haras du Bois training center, Calvados)
Trainer of Mimos
“On Tuesday morning, Mimos did her final gallop ahead of Sunday. Unlike her prep for the Prix Imprudence, where she went on the turf, this time she worked on the sand. I was really pleased with her return in the Imprudence: Tony Piccone didn’t ask too much from her, and she was up against some solid sprinters. Anything can still happen before Sunday, but if everything goes well in the coming days, she should line up. Mimos is very easy to ride. There’s just one thing she hates: not being covered up. We tried running her up front in Bordeaux, and it didn’t work at all…”
Ollie Sangster (Manton House training center, England)
Trainer of Celestial Orbit
“Third in the Nell Gwyn Stakes (Group 3) after nearly nine months off, she ran a good race on ground that was a bit too soft for her liking, and finished well. That outing did her a lot of good, and our timing is right for the Poule. Winner of the Star Stakes (Listed) in July at Sandown, Celestial Orbit will try the mile for the first time. I have no doubt about her stamina: the mile will suit her. Nor do I have any doubts about the race tactics. On Sunday, my filly has a real chance of claiming a good place. I rate her at the same level as the two fillies who finished second and third in the Guineas, and her impressive turn of foot will be a major asset in French races. The good ground will also be in her favor.”
Yann Lerner (Maisons-Laffitte training center, Yvelines)
Co-trainer of Godspeed
“Godspeed was very sharp in the Class 2, which is why we chose to wait and run her in the Prix de la Grotte to give her a good learning experience. Her final 600 meters were very good. She did good work on the turf on Saturday. She’ll race with a hood, but we haven’t yet decided whether to add earplugs. I hope we get a good draw. She’s a straightforward and manageable filly in the mornings, which actually surprised us in her second start. Ronan Thomas will ride her.”
Hedi Ghabri (Chantilly training center, Oise)
Trainer of Ghoufrann
“Ghoufrann worked on turf on Monday and everything went well. She’s very consistent in her work, and I think she’s sharpened up since her return in the Prix Imprudence. That prep race was a good one. I think she’ll be more comfortable over the mile. She’s a very easy filly to ride during a race, which is a good thing in the big fields like the Poule. Ghoufrann is my first runner in a classic, and it’s a great feeling. On Sunday, she will be partnered by Augustin Madamet.”
Pauline Chehboub (Racing Manager of Gousserie Racing, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône)
Owner of Daylight
“Daylight has stayed in very good form in training. We’re taking a shot at it and mainly hoping for a good draw. She’s very straightforward to ride. The Poule will be her first main target of the season. If she shows us she doesn’t stay the mile, there will be other options for her. She’s also entered in the Commonwealth Cup. On Sunday, she’ll be one of the top fillies in the race, based on her rating and what she showed as a 2-year-old…”
Barry Mahon (Racing Manager of Juddmonte, England)
Owner of Better Together
“Better Together is a very relaxed filly, often the first to settle during a race! The step up in distance will suit her, and André Fabre is even thinking about the Prix de Diane for her… The field looks smaller among the fillies, which is good for both of ours, as they prefer to be held up. Now we just need to pray for a single-digit stall number!”
3 - The President of the UAE Cup (Purebred Arabians)
François Rohaut (Pau training center, Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
Trainer of Ch'ezza
“Ch'ezza was supposed to go on vacation. But the generosity of the sponsor of The President of the UAE Cup – European Arabian Horse Cup (Group 1 PA – Pure Arabians) encouraged us to run. It’s wonderful to see the support given to races all across Europe by this sponsor, with very generous prize money. We must thank the people working to shine a light on Arabian horse racing. We’re doing our best to have runners. Sunday’s race looks very classy, and Ch'ezza, who has nothing left to prove, will face a field of great quality with some very ambitious younger horses.”
Thomas Fourcy (Royan training center, Charente-Maritime)
Trainer of Nour Al Maury
“Everything is going very well. The mare has recovered nicely. She was in Qatar over the winter, then had a break. Her prep for this race went smoothly. She’s not a mare for fast, firm tracks like those in Qatar. Every time we’ve taken her there, it hasn’t gone too well. I don’t think she’s suited to firm ground, which is why she performs less well there.
She’s in good form at the moment, and we’ll have to see about her draw. Also, there are some very good horses in the race: Muraad is making his comeback, Ch'ezza ran over the winter and we know him well, RB Kingmaker was runner-up in the World Cup, and then there’s Luwsail, who just won in Doha. There are several interesting horses in the race.”
Jean de Mieulle (Morannes-sur-Sarthe training center, Maine-et-Loire)
Trainer of Luwsail and Al Zwair
“Luwsail just won his Group 1 after a fierce battle in Doha. We’re going to make the most of his current form. The horse is more than fit. He travelled very well. This will be his last race before a short break. He’ll enjoy some time off afterwards.
This is certainly one of the highest-level Group 1s we’ll have this year. The only ones missing are Al Ghadeer and HM Alchahine, who apparently is headed to Italy. All the best are here. There are only five horses in the race, the sixth being my other horse Al Zwair, who will make sure the race has a proper pace. He’s a Group 3-level horse but still very useful.”
Élisabeth Bernard (La Teste training center, Gironde)
Trainer of RB Kingmaker
“We’re making the trip and I hope I’m not making a mistake. I think he’s an extraordinary horse that I already had in training last year. He then went off for the season in the Gulf. He had twenty days of vacation at Haras de Saubouas and only returned recently. He hasn’t been back in the yard for very long.
He had to prepare in record time, because he’s an extremely generous horse who puts his heart into both training and racing. He’s wonderful, and together with his owner, we chose to run him in this race.
We were supposed to be represented by HM Alchahine, but after working them together, we realized RB Kingmaker was more ready than the other. So we decided to give HM Alchahine an extra ten days and he’ll run in Rome on May 18.”
Upcoming Press Releases:
These three Grand Prix events will each have a dedicated press release this Sunday, May 11, 2025, featuring the results, race highlights, and quotes from the winners.