Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches History: The French One Thousand Guineas

Last winner: Rouhiya (f3, FRA by Lope de Vega ex Rondonia, by Raven’s Pass), Owned by S. A. Aga Khan, bred by S. A. Aga Khan, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, ridden by Maxime Guyon.

Record-time (main course): 1’34’’7 by Flotilla in 2013.

The race will be run in 2025 for the 138th time

The 2024 edition

Sunday, May 12, 2024, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris) - Most of the €550,000 Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas, Gr1) prep races were run on very soft courses this season. With its fifteen runners, the French classic seemed wide open without a clear leader, especially given the doubts raised by the firmer ground.

With the Prix de la Grotte (Gr3) winner Candala opting out, her stablemate Rouhiya (Lope de Vega), third in her comeback in the Prix du Louvre, a Class 1 race, represented the green and red silks and the breeding of the Aga Khan in this event, drawing stall 10.

Starting at odds of 30/1…

Yet, it was indeed Rouhiya who held firm to secure the win against a trio of British and Irish challengers led by the early pacemaker, Kathmandu (Showcasing), who had just been beaten over 7f in the Nell Gwyn Stakes (Gr3) at Newmarket. This form line did not hold in the 1,000 Guineas, but an extra week to recover and a curved course might have allowed Kathmandu to perform her best, even though she had also been entered over 6f in the Prix Texanita (Gr3) five days after the Poule… Meanwhile, Rouhiya was among the entries for the Prix des Lilas (L), run the day before at Chantilly over the mile.

Well-placed throughout, the Irish filly Vespertilio (Night of Thunder), bred in France, made an impressive return alongside Romantic Style (Night of Thunder), always in contention and finishing closely in fourth. The margins at the finish (head, neck, and short neck) reflect how disputed the race had been.

Rouhiya's performance was nonetheless exceptional. The filly started well and moved alongside Kathmandu, soon covered by Romantic Style, the Prix Imprudence (Gr3) winner over 7f at Deauville. Entering the straight, she momentarily lost contact with the leaders but gradually recovered to clinch victory at the very end, overcoming Kathmandu, who was notably tenacious.

Rock’n Swing (Camelot), who had won the Prix du Louvre ahead of Rouhiya, lingered at the back for a long time and made up much ground between horses.

#Emirates #UAE Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Gr1) pour l’outsider Rouhiya (Lope de Vega) ⁦@AgaKhanStuds⁩ ⁦@GraffardRacing⁩ ⁦@maximeguyon_off⁩ qui repousse jusqu’au bout un trio britannique dans le premier classique français de la saison. pic.twitter.com/qCxCKu7qja

— France Galop (@francegalop) May 12, 2024

The fillies' season over the mile should be exciting!

Rouhiya is out of Rondonia (Raven’s Pass), a debut winner at three and later placed in Listed races at the end of her four-year-old season over 10f. Winning at Évreux and Pornichet, Rouhiya's elder sister, Rodainah (Le Havre), was sold for €130,000 at the Arqana breeding sales in December. A Camelot 2yo filly is in training with Francis-Henri Graffard, followed by a Sea The Moon filly.

Rouhiya won her second start in November over 6.5f on the all-weather at Deauville. Previously third on her debut over 7f at Saint-Cloud, after having to wait too long behind a curtain of fillies and against rivals who had already raced, she finished with a burst, narrowly missing second place. Entered in the Prix Miesque (Gr3) but ultimately the favourite on her return in her maiden, she triumphed in a few strides after seeming beaten.

It was a bit of the spectacle she offered us in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, won by the Aga Khan for the fifth time.

History

Restricted to 3-year-old fillies over one mile, the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches is the French equivalent of the One Thousand Guineas in England, which also take place in early May, but in Newmarket on a straight course and not at Longchamp with a bend.

Traditionally, these events open the 3-year-olds' Classics season since they are the first Group 1 races of the year for the promotion. It is already a great goal in itself, however, in addition to a test for the rest of the classic crown: according to the ways the fillies will handle this first challenge, some of which have never run before on this distance, we will know if they can go further a month later over the Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks)'s 2,100 metres/10.5 furlongs trip, for example. Some, on the other hand, will have to stick for the mile, and others will return on an even shorter one.

This is the main crossroads at the start of the season, the first act in a play that continues until October ...

This event was created in 1883 when a mixed race dating from 1840 called the Poule d’Essai was split into two events – one for the colts and one for the fillies. Not held from 1915 to 1918 or in 1940, it took place at Le Tremblay in 1943, and at Maisons-Laffitte in 1944 and 1945 and Deauville in 2016, 2017 and 2020 because of the renovation at Longchamp or the coronavirus disease that delayed the event by almost a month. Since 1987, it has been run over the main course, except in 2018 when it returned to ParisLongchamp after a 2-year hiatus and was tried over the middle course again.

In 2006 and 2010, the finish order was modified after the race. In 2006, Price Tag was relegated to third place for having impeded the second-placed Impressionnante. In 2010, Liliside was relegated from first to sixth place for having hindered several participants, including Lady of the Desert, who was finally awarded fifth place. The race produced a dead heat once, in 1949 between Coronation and her stablemate Galgala. The highest number of starters was in 1912 when 19 went to post. 18 lined up in 1924, 1986 and 2016, and 17 in 2002. The lowest number of starters recorded is 3, in 1890, while 6 horses took part in 1885, 1888, 1892, 1910, 1937, 1944, 1950 and 1980.

The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and the Prix de Diane Longines

The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches constitutes the benchmark event for the Prix de Diane Longines and the double of these two races has been done by twenty-five fillies, who can be regarded as the finest performers of their generation: Barberine (1885), Wandora (1890), Primrose (1891), Roxelane (1897), Semendria (1900), La Camargo (1901), Kizil Kourgan (1902), Rose de Mai (1903), Flowershop (1920), Fairy Legend (1927), Pearl Cap (1931), Féerie (1938), Caravelle (1943), Nikellora (1945), Corteira (1948), Apollonia (1956), Timandra (1960), La Sega (1962), Gazala (1967), Allez France (1973), Madelia (1977), East of the Moon (1994), Divine Proportions (2005), Zarkava (2008) and Golden Lilac (2011).

Also, thirty-one winners of the Poule d'Essai have finished second or third in the Prix de Diane: Stockholm (1883, 2nd), Yvrande (1884, 2nd), Sakountala (1886, 3rd), Ténébreuse (1887, 3rd), Calcéolaire (1894, 2nd), Andrée (1895, 2nd), Riposte (1896, 2nd), Saïs (1906, 2nd), Sauge Pourprée (1908, 2nd), Vellica (1910, 3rd), Porte Maillot (1912, 2nd), Banshee (1913, 3rd), Diavolezza (1914, 3rd), Rose Thé (1930, 2nd), Ligne de Fond (1932, 2nd), Mary Tudor (1934, 2nd), Longthanh (1941, 2nd), Esméralda (1942, 2nd), Corejada (1950, 2nd), Pomaré (1952, 3rd), Hurnli (1953, 3rd), Toro (1957, 3rd), Pola Bella (1968, 2nd), Pampered Miss (1970, 3rd), Riverqueen (1976, 2nd), Three Troikas (1979, 2nd), Aryenne (1980, 2nd), Miesque (1987, 2nd), Matiara (1995, 2nd), Musical Chimes (2003, 3rd), Beauty Parlour (2012, 2nd).

Also noteworthy are the sixteen fillies who, after coming second or third in the Poule d'Essai, have made up for their disappointment by winning the Prix de Diane: Bavarde (1887, 3rd), Annita (1892, 2nd), Kasbah (1895, 2nd), Profane (1904, 2nd), Marsa (1910, 2nd), Qu'elle est Belle II (1912, 3rd), Moïa (1913, 2nd), Dorina (1926, 2nd), Mary Legend (1928, 3rd), Mistress Ford (1936, 2nd), Pirette (1946, 3rd), Montenica (1947, 2nd), Stratonice (1951, 3rd), Tahiti (1954, 2nd), Caerlina (1991, 3rd), and Carling (1995, 2nd).

Partnerships

This race, like the corresponding race for colts, was sponsored from 1986 to 2001 by Dubai, one of the seven states of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). From 2002 to 2006, Gainsborough, the name assigned by Sheik Maktoum Al Maktoum (who died on January 4, 2006) to his stud farms located in Berkshire (Great Britain) and in Kentucky (USA), took over. Abu Dhabi, via the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, becomes a partner of the two races in 2017, then the United Arab Emirates via the term Emirates from 2018.

Foreign winners 

Six overseas participants have been victorious –– the first only in 1992, England’s Culture Vulture. Four of her compatriots have since emulated her: Ta Rib (1996), Valentine Waltz (1999), Zenda (2002) and Teppal (2018); along with Ireland’s Rose Gypsy (2001).

Owners

• Marcel Boussac (8 wins) : Esméralda (1942), Caravelle (1943), Palencia (1944), Corteira (1948), Coronation & Galgala (dead-heat in 1949), Corejada (1950), Djelfa (1951), Apollonia (1956).
• Rothschild Family (8 wins): Diavolezza (1914) and Féerie (1938) for Maurice, Flowershop (1920), Nephthys (1921), La Dame de Trèfle (1925) and Ligne de Fond (1932) for Edouard, Dictaway (1955) and Timandra (1960) for Guy.
• Aga Khan Family (8 wins): Yla (1958) and Ginetta (1959) for Aly Khan, Masarika (1984), Zalaiyka (1998), Zarkava (2008), Ervediya (2015), Rouhiya (2024) for Aga Khan IV, Darjina (2007) for Zahra Aga Khan.
• François Dupré (4 wins): Yonne (1939), Virgule (1954), Solitude (1961) and La Sega (1962).
• Wildenstein Family (5 wins): Allez France (1973), Madelia (1977) and Danseuse du Soir (1991) pour Daniel, Beauty Parlour (2012) for Écurie Wildenstein.
• Edmond Blanc (3 wins): Andrée (1895), Saïs (1906) and Porte Maillot (1912).
• Mrs Alec Head (3 wins): Riverqueen (1976), Three Troikas (1979) and Silvermine (1985).
• Stavros Niarchos & Niarchos Family (3 wins): Miesque (1987), East of the Moon (1994) and Divine Proportions (2005).

Trainers

• Charles Semblat (7 wins): Esméralda (1942), Caravelle (1943), Palencia (1944), Corteira (1948), Coronation and Galgala (1949), Corejada (1950) and Djelfa (1951).
• Christiane Head (7 wins): Three Troikas (1979), Silvermine (1985), Baiser Volé (1986), Ravinella (1988), Matiara (1995), Always Loyal (1997) and Special Duty (2010).
• François Mathet (5 wins): Virgule (1954), Solitude (1961), La Sega (1962), Pola Bella (1968) and Koblenza (1969).
• Alec Head (5 wins): Toro (1957), Yla (1958), Ginetta (1959), Ivanjica (1975) and Dancing Maid (1978).
• Jean-Claude Rouget (5 wins): Elusive Wave (2009), Avenir Certain (2014), Ervediya (2015), La Cressonnière (2016), Cœursamba (2021).
• Frank Carter (4 wins): Rebia (1924), Roahouga (1928), Pearl Cap (1931) and Bipearl (1933).
• François Boutin (4 wins): River Lady (1982), Miesque (1987), Madeleine's Dream (1993) and East of the Moon (1994).
• Alain de Royer-Dupré (4 wins): Masarika (1984), Zalaiyka (1998), Darjina (2007) and Zarkava (2008).

Riders

• Freddy Head (8 wins): Ivanjica (1975), Riverqueen (1976), Dancing Maid (1978), Three Troikas (1979), Silvermine (1985), Miesque (1987), Matiara (1995), Always Loyal (1997).
• Yves Saint-Martin (7 wins): Solitude (1961), La Sega (1962), Pola Bella (1968), Koblenza (1969), Allez France (1973), Madelia (1977), Masarika (1984). 
• Roger Poincelet (5 wins): Corteira (1948), Coronation (1949), Hurnli (1953), Altissima (1963), La Sarre (1965). 
• Christophe Soumillon (5 wins): Musical Chimes (2003), Darjina (2007), Zarkava (2008), Beauty Parlour (2012), Ervedya (2015).