 Expert - Bill Esdaile | |
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| Bill Esdaile has worked in racing journalism in the United Kingdom for over 20 years. He began his working career at the Sporting Life back in 1995, and has since worked for the Racing Post, The Sportsman, and is currently racing editor of London-based City AM. He is a keen form student, and will bring a unique insight into the major European races. | |
Expert Column for Poule d'Essai des Poulains Day (S2) (Bill Esdaile)
S2-1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains
The ground will play a pivotal role in this year’s renewal of the French Guineas meeting.
The going is likely to be very soft, which will suit Christophe Soumillon’s ride AMERICAN FLAG. Trained by Yann Barberot at Deauville, the son of WOOTTON BASSETT is unbeaten in two starts over 1,600m this season and easily saw off MARHABA YA SANAFI on his last start in the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau over the same course and distance, which he won by two and a half lengths. The colt is improving with each of his runs and it would be no surprise to see him add the G1 1,600m Poule d’Essai des Poulains to his name.
Unlike AMERICAN FLAG, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained VALIMI is still lacking experience at Group level and this is a huge step up in class. However, it should not distract from the fact that he has been steadily improving this season and that his trainer has more than once lifted a black type race with an unexposed horse. A winner in soft ground over the same course and distance, there is no doubt about his stamina and after beating AMERICAN FLAG on his debut last year, he could well spring a surprise.
Aidan O’Brien, who rarely misses the opportunity of running one of his 3YOs in the French classic is lining up HANS ANDERSEN who won the G3 Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial over 1,416m in heavy ground at Leopardstown on his seasonal reappearance. Already tried at G1 level last year, albeit without making a huge impression, he seems to have improved over the winter and should run into the first three.
The Fabrice Chappet-trained GOOD GUESS showed a lot of speed when coming from the back of the field in the G3 Prix Djebel over 1,400m to beat BREIZH SKY in the final strides of the race. By KODIAC, there is a slight doubt about his ability to handle the testing ground, but the Poule d’Essai des Poulains has always been his target and the trainer is convinced that he will stay 1,600m without a problem.
Brian Meehan has never won a Classic race but is hoping that last month’s 1,400m Greenham Stakes winner ISAAC SHELBY will change that statistic when he lines up at the start of the Poule d’Essai des Poulains. The son of NIGHT OF THUNDER has won three of his four starts and only produced one disappointing run in the G1 Dewhurst Stakes over 1,400m behind CHALDEAN who went on to win the 2000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket last week. It turned out that he was lame after that run, but he has come back in great form and looks happy in any ground.
SELECTIONS: 6. AMERICAN FLAG, 8. ISAAC SHELBY, 9. HANS ANDERSEN, 3. VALIMI & 7. GOOD GUESS
S2-2 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches
French trainer Christopher Head, the son of former jockey and trainer Freddy Head, is currently enjoying an incredible strike rate of 30% and could be celebrating his first classic success when he saddles BLUE ROSE CEN in the G1 1,600m Poule d’Essai des Pouliches. The daughter of CHURCHILL has gone from strength to strength and blew her rivals away with a five-length victory in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac over 1,600m on Arc day last year in very soft ground. She renewed with success on her seasonal reappearance in the G3 Prix de la Grotte over 1,600m in heavy ground, where she beat the improving LINDY by a length and a half and it looks like she hasn’t even touched the limits of her ability.
While the Christophe Ferland-trained LINDY was beaten into second place on her first attempt at Group level, she should not be underestimated. The Prix de la Grotte was after all a prep race for the Classic and the daughter of LE HAVRE and LLANITA, who both handled soft ground, is improving all the time. She is considered a star at her yard and has been trained with this race in mind.
NEVER ENDING STORY was the filly who attempted to chase BLUE ROSE CEN home in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, but ultimately never got near her and even lost second place in the final strides. She did win the G3 Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes over 1,416m at Leopardstown on her first start this season by two and a half lengths in heavy ground and her trainer Aidan O’Brien is already looking further ahead to the G1 Prix de Diane, which suggests that stamina is no issue for her.
SAUTERNE, a daughter of KINGMAN, is probably the toughest and most experienced filly in the field. She has already run four times this season and while her disappointing performance in the 1,400m G3 Prix Imprudence has to be put down to unfortunate tactics, she bounced back on her next start when she beat the colts by three lengths. As it is not often that fillies get the better of the colts at this time of the year, she deserves to be considered a real threat in this race.
Jerome Reynier has not saddled many Classic contenders but is very hopeful that RITOURNELLE has continued to improve to make a favourable impression. A winner over 1,600m, she was dropped back to 1,400m on her final start last season when she was successfully stepped up to Listed level. However, when she made her seasonal reappearance in the G3 Prix Imprudence, it was clear that 1,400m was too short for her and she will relish the return to 1,600m.
SELECTIONS: 10. BLUE ROSE CEN, 7. NEVER ENDING STORY, 8. RITOURNELLE, 3. SAUTERNE & 4. LINDY
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