3 minute read
The G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches Preview.
The G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (1600m) is the first Classic for Three-year-old fillies and with just one month until the running of the race, quality fillies are returning from successful two-year-old campaigns. There are emerging stars, and we take a deeper look at the key prospects.
Last week we witnessed the first G3 Classic Trial races at Deauville and this weekend at Longchamp the next round of preview races will take place for both the colts and fillies. Having explored the colts last week, we focus on the fillies.
Raclette is an exciting undefeated Andre Fabre trained filly for Juddmonte Farms. By Frankel she hasn't been seen since winning a Conditions race over 1600m by 4L at Chantilly in October following a 1500m debutantes race victory at Deauville in August. She is nominated to run in this Sunday's G3 Prix de la Grotte (1600m) as her trial race.
The stable also has G1 Prix Marcel Boussac (1600m) winner Zellie. She made her seasonal reappearance in the G3 Prix Imprudence (1400m) at Deauville last week, finishing second to the impressive Malavath. It has been indicated Zellie may go for the UK equivalent race, the G1 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Newmarket in two weeks. With the Poule d'Essai two weeks later this year, it would be interesting to see if connections opt to run in both races.
Two other Andre Fabre three-year-old fillies to note are Sea The Sky a November maiden winner and Place du Carousel, who managed a last start Conditions success over 1800m at Fontainebleau.
Francis-Henri Graffard prepares Malavath. She won the 'Imprudence' by 1.5L drawing clear indicating the extra 200m of the Poule d'Essai should suit. Last season she won the G2 Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte (1200m) before finishing second at Del Mar (USA) in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (1600m). She is an exciting and progressive filly.
Accakaba comes from the famous Werthiemer Brothers racing and breeding establishment. Winner of the G2 Prix du Calvados (1400m) at Deauville in August she subsequently ran fourth behind Zellie in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and commenced her 2022 campaign with a promising fourth in the 'Imprudence' beaten 2L after leading the field. She is trained by Christophe Ferland who also has a nice filly in Times Square.
France currently has a good crop of three-year-old fillies. Others who could continue to progress and mature during the coming weeks include Mangoustine who is three wins from as many starts including the G3 Prix Miesque (1400m) last October. Throughout winter winter she changed stables and is now trained by Mikel Delzangles and has been targeted to have her first run of the year this coming Sunday at Longchamp.
For middle distance fillies, the Juddmonte Farms Dubawi filly Agave could prove to be very special following her three races to date for three wins, the latest in the G3 Prix Pénélope (2100m) starting an odds-on favourite and winning cosily by three-quarters of a length. The G1 Prix St-Alary (2000m) at Longchamp in May followed by the G1 Prix de Diane (2100m) at Chantilly in June will be her immediate targets. At this stage of the season, she does appear to have many lengths over her middle-distance French rivals.
Other names to consider include the Stéphane Wattel trained Rosacea and Wootton Diva.
