The G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1600m) is the French equivalent to the British and Irish 2,000 Guineas and is the first French Classic of the Flat season. Some exciting colts are nominated, and we look at potential stars that could line-up in six weeks' time.
The first Group One French Classic for Three-Year-Old Colts is the time-honoured Poule d'Essai des Poulains, this year to be run on Sunday, 15 May at Longchamp over 1600m.
Next Thursday, the G3 Prix Djebel will be run on the straight course at Deauville over 1400m. This race is the first of the Group Three trial races for the Classic. The first of the Group Three trial races will commence this week with the Prix Djebel, first run in 1949 and named after the winner of a unique running of the Poule d'Essai in 1940. Why was it unique you may ask? That year the Poule d'Essai was run in October, the race was run at Auteuil, and both sexes competed.
Style Vendome was the last horse to complete the 'Djebel-Poule d'Essai' double in 2013.
Below, we consider the key horses nominated for the 2022 edition of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains.
Modern Games
The Godolphin owned colt Modern Games is currently favourite for the first French Colt's Classic. This is understandable after a progressive and promising first campaign where the UK trained three-year-old improved to be off the mark second up at Newmarket (UK) over 1400m. He has continued to progress finding success on his past three starts including in the G3 Tattersalls Stakes (1400m) and then handling the step up in class when victorious in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (1600m). The son of Dubawi is now proven at the trip and grade as well as handling international travels.
Native Trail
UK trainer, Charlie Appleby presents another well fancied runner in the shape of Native Trail who holds a perfect four from four race record. His unbeaten streak last June at Sandown Park (UK) over 1400m before three further wins tackling the same distance in the G2 Superlative Stakes (1400m) at Newmarket (July Course, UK), the G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (1400m) at The Curragh (Ireland) and the G1 Dewhurst Stakes (1400m) last October at Newmarket (Rowley Mile, UK). It is likely the son of Oasis Dream is aimed at a Classic but which one, English, Irish or French is undecided.
Erevann
This highly promising son of Dubawi could be one of the leading chances for the home contingent. Jean-Claude Rouget trains this HH Aga Khan owned three-year-old. He remains unbeaten after two starts following a seasonal reappearance success at Saint-Cloud last Tuesday (29th March). He made a winning debut last October at Deauville over 1600m where he was included as part of our Run of the Week series (Please click here for more information). Can he continue to progress to top level?
Coroebus
Yet another Classic contender who is by Dubawi and trained by Charlie Appleby. He has only the three career runs to date including debut success over 1600m at Newmarket (July course, UK) before proving himself in Group company finishing runner-up in the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes (1600m) on the Newmarket Rowley Mile. The final outing of his first season was a winning one when contesting the G3 Autumn Stakes (1600m). He holds entries in the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas as well as the G1 Epsom Derby (2400m) in early June.
Angel Bleu
This colt by Dark Angel has maintained a consistent profile during his first campaign with feature race victories. His first Black Type race win was the G2 Vintage Stakes (1400m) at Glorious Goodwood (UK). This was followed by two Group One victories in France – Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (1400m) on "Arc" day at Longchamp and Critérium International (1600m) at Saint-Cloud. The Ralph Beckett trained three-year-old is proven in the grade, distance and in France. If he has returned with the same ability shown as a two-year-old he could prove to be a star of the Classic generation.
Tumbler
Tumbler is a Wertheimer Brothers owned son of Kingman. He caught the eye on his first racecourse appearance when victorious at Saint-Cloud last October over 1400m, drawing right away. That form has worked out and he could be a progressive colt.
Goldspur
Charlie Appleby, Godolphin and Dubawi are again represented, this time with Goldspur, already proven in France following two UK wins. A solid effort was produced when third in the G1 Critérium de Saint-Cloud (2000m) last October behind El Bodegon and he looks to have a good profile.
El Bodegon
UK handler, James Ferguson has brought this son of Kodiac to France three times. His third career and first French start was a third in the G3 Prix la Rochette (1400m) at Longchamp before two victories in the Chantilly G3 Prix de Condé (1800m) and the G1 Critérium de Saint-Cloud (2000m). He looks to be a stayer in the making and the softer the ground, the better his chances.
Vadeni
Jean-Claude Rouget and HH Aga Khan have another possible Classic contender with Vadeni. A winner debut (as identified in our Run of the Week edition (Please click here for more information) at La Teste-de-Buch in July before a success in the Listed Critérium du Fonds Européen de l'Elevage (1600m) a month later at Deauville. His last race was in September when a fair third tackling the Chantilly G3 Prix de Condé (1800m).
Welwal
Jean-Claude Rouget and Al Shaqab Racing team up with this son of Shalaa who has finished in the top two in all four career outings with two wins and two seconds. He may have a fitness advantage with his first run in 2022 being in March when second at Chantilly AW.
My Fancy
This three-year-old by Myboycharlie could have both an experience and fitness advantage over most of his rivals at the head of the market. He brings four top-three finishes from five starts and showed ability when resuming in March at Saint-Cloud finishing third in the Listed Prix Omnium II (1600m).
Dreamflight
This Lady Bamford owned three-year-old colt by Frankel could be André Fabre's main Classic contender. Four of his five career outings have come at Saint-Cloud including a win in the Listed Prix Omnium II (1600m).
Aikhal
Aidan O'Brien maintains a good record in this Classic including winning the Group One last year with St Mark's Basilica. The son of Galileo holds a fascinating profile with a fourth in the G3 Autumn Stakes (1600m) at Newmarket (UK) prior to filling the same position, not beaten far attempting the G1 Critérium International (1600m) at Saint-Cloud. His likely target will be the Poule d'Essai des Poulains.
Star of India
Aidan O'Brien's other potential fancied French Classics aimed runner could be this son of Galileo. He has only had one start winning over 1400m at Leopardstown (Ireland) last October in maiden company. He remains unexposed.
