Poule d'Essai des Poulains

The Poule d'Essai des Poulains is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at Longchamp in May.

Poule d'Essai des Poulains
(French 2,000 Guineas)
Group 1 race
LocationLongchamp Racecourse
Paris, France
Inaugurated1883
Race typeFlat / Thoroughbred
Websitefrance-galop.com
Race information
Distance1,600 metres (1 mile)[1]
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed
QualificationThree-year-old colts[1]
Weight58 kg[1]
Purse€600,000 (2015)
1st: €342,840[1]
Poule d'Essai des Poulains
2020
Victor Ludorum The Summit Alson

It is France's equivalent of the 2000 Guineas, a famous race in England.

History

Origins

The Poule d'Essai, an event for three-year-old colts and fillies, was established in France in 1840. It was inspired by two races in England, the 2000 Guineas (for colts and fillies) and the 1000 Guineas (for fillies only).

The race was initially staged at the Champ de Mars. Its first running was over one full circuit of the track (about 2,000 metres). It was cut to a three-quarter lap (1,500 metres) in 1841. It was cancelled due to insufficient entries in 1843 and 1844.

The Poule d'Essai was transferred to Longchamp in 1857. It was extended to 1,600 metres in 1867.[2] It was abandoned because of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. It continued to be run until 1882.[3]

Modern version

The Poule d'Essai des Poulains was created in 1883, when the Poule d'Essai was divided into two separate races.[4] The "Poulains" was restricted to colts, and the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches was reserved for fillies.

The events were cancelled throughout World War I, with no runnings from 1915 to 1918. There were two 1,800-metre replacement races at Chantilly in 1917.[5] The version for colts was called the Critérium d'Essai des Poulains.[6]

The "Poulains" and "Pouliches" were not run in the spring of 1940, but a substitute combining both races took place at Auteuil in October. Titled the Prix d'Essai, it was won by the colt Djebel.[7]

The Poule d'Essai des Poulains was held at Le Tremblay in 1943,[8] and Maisons-Laffitte in 1944 and 1945.[9]

The present race grading system was introduced in 1971, and the event was given Group 1 status. It was switched from Longchamp's middle course (moyenne piste) to the main course (grande piste) in 1987.

The leading horses from the Poule d'Essai des Poulains sometimes go on to compete in the Prix du Jockey Club. The last to win both races was Brametot in 2017.

Records

Leading jockey (6 wins):

  • Freddy Head – Green Dancer (1975), Red Lord (1976), Blushing John (1988), Linamix (1990), Hector Protector (1991), Shanghai (1992)

Leading trainer (11 wins):

  • Robert Denman – Regain (1883), Archiduc (1884), Vinicius (1903), Gouvernant (1904), Val d'Or (1905), Ouadi Halfa (1907), Lord Burgoyne (1911), Dagor (1913), Le Traquet (1921), Sir Gallahad (1923), Asterus (1926)

Leading owner (8 wins):

  • Edmond Blanc – Arreau (1896), Governor (1900), Vinicius (1903), Gouvernant (1904), Val d'Or (1905), Ouadi Halfa (1907), Lord Burgoyne (1911), Dagor (1913)
  • HH Aga Khan IV – Buisson Ardent (1956), Zeddaan (1968), Kalamoun (1973), Blushing Groom (1977), Nishapour (1978), Ashkalani (1996), Daylami (1997), Sendawar (1999)

Winners since 1970
Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time
1970 Caro [a] Bill Williamson Albert Klimscha Countess Batthyany 1:41.30
1971 Zug Jean-Claude Desaint John Cunnington, Sr. William Hawn 1:37.60
1972 Riverman Jean-Claude Desaint Alec Head Germaine Wertheimer 1:38.60
1973 Kalamoun Henri Samani François Mathet HH Aga Khan IV 1:41.80
1974 Moulines Maurice Philipperon Richard Carver, Jr. Junzo Kashiyama 1:43.90
1975 Green Dancer Freddy Head Alec Head Jacques Wertheimer 1:39.30
1976 Red Lord Freddy Head Alec Head Jacques Wertheimer 1:42.30
1977 Blushing Groom Henri Samani François Mathet HH Aga Khan IV 1:41.80
1978 Nishapour Henri Samani François Mathet HH Aga Khan IV 1:46.10
1979 Irish River Maurice Philipperon John Cunnington, Jr. Mrs Raymond Adès 1:39.80
1980 In Fijar Georges Doleuze Mitri Saliba Mahmoud Fustok 1:38.40
1981 Recitation Greville Starkey Guy Harwood Anthony Bodie 1:40.70
1982 Melyno Yves Saint-Martin François Mathet Stavros Niarchos 1:38.60
1983 L'Emigrant Cash Asmussen François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 1:46.30
1984 Siberian Express Alfred Gibert André Fabre Mahmoud Fustok 1:35.80
1985 No Pass No Sale [b] Yves Saint-Martin Robert Collet Richard Strauss 1:38.10
1986 Fast Topaze Cash Asmussen Georges Mikhalidès Mahmoud Fustok 1:48.30
1987 Soviet Star Greville Starkey André Fabre Sheikh Mohammed 1:36.20
1988 Blushing John Freddy Head François Boutin Allen Paulson 1:37.20
1989 Kendor Maurice Philipperon Raymond Touflan Adolf Bader 1:36.10
1990 Linamix Freddy Head François Boutin Jean-Luc Lagardère 1:35.90
1991 Hector Protector Freddy Head François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 1:37.60
1992 Shanghai Freddy Head François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 1:38.20
1993 Kingmambo Cash Asmussen François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 1:39.10
1994 Green Tune Olivier Doleuze Criquette Head Jacques Wertheimer 1:37.40
1995 Vettori Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Maktoum Al Maktoum / Godolphin 1:40.40
1996 Ashkalani Gérald Mossé Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 1:37.60
1997 Daylami Gérald Mossé Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 1:42.60
1998 Victory Note John Reid Peter Chapple-Hyam Magnier / Sangster 1:34.50
1999 Sendawar Gérald Mossé Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 1:36.20
2000 Bachir Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 1:39.40
2001 Vahorimix [c] Christophe Soumillon André Fabre Jean-Luc Lagardère 1:35.40
2002 Landseer Michael Kinane Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Magnier 1:36.80
2003 Clodovil Christophe Soumillon André Fabre Lagardère Family 1:36.40
2004 American Post Richard Hughes Criquette Head-Maarek Khalid Abdullah 1:36.50
2005 Shamardal Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 1:39.20
2006 Aussie Rules Kieren Fallon Aidan O'Brien Magnier / Tabor / Salman 1:37.00
2007 Astronomer Royal Colm O'Donoghue Aidan O'Brien Smith / Tabor / Magnier 1:37.10
2008 Falco Olivier Peslier Carlos Laffon-Parias Wertheimer et Frère 1:35.60
2009 Silver Frost Christophe Soumillon Yves de Nicolay John Cotton 1:35.43
2010 Lope de Vega Maxime Guyon André Fabre Gestüt Ammerland 1:36.10
2011 Tin Horse Thierry Jarnet Didier Guillemin Marquesa de Moratalla 1:36.33
2012 Lucayan Stéphane Pasquier François Rohaut Mouknass / Pandora 1:37.11
2013 Style Vendome Thierry Thulliez Nicolas Clément André de Ganay / Baillet 1:34.68
2014 Karakontie Stéphane Pasquier Jonathan Pease Niarchos Family 1:41.06
2015 Make Believe Olivier Peslier André Fabre Prince A A Faisal 1:36.85
2016 The Gurkha[d] Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien Smith / Tabor / Magnier 1:36.97
2017 Brametot[d] Cristian Demuro Jean-Claude Rouget Al Shaqab / Augustin-Normand 1:36.82
2018 Olmedo Cristian Demuro Jean-Claude Rouget Ecurie Antonio Caro & Gerard Augustin-Normand 1:36.85
2019 Persian King Pierre-Charles Boudot André Fabre Godolphin & Ballymore Thoroughbred 1:38.98
2020 Victor Ludorum[e] Mickael Barzalona André Fabre Godolphin & Ballymore Thoroughbred 1:34.14

a Faraway Son finished first in 1970, but he was relegated to third place following a stewards' inquiry.
b River Mist finished first in 1985, but he was relegated to fourth place following a stewards' inquiry.
c Noverre was first in 2001, but he was subsequently disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance.
d The 2016 and 2017 runnings took place at Deauville while Longchamp was closed for redevelopment.
e The 2020 running took place at Deauville on 1 June as Longchamp was closed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier winners

Poule d'Essai
  • 1840: Giges
  • 1841: Fiammetta
  • 1842: Annetta
  • 1843–44: no race
  • 1845: Commodor Napier
  • 1846: Philip Shah
  • 1847: Tronquette
  • 1848: Gambetti
  • 1849: Experience
  • 1850: Saint Germain
  • 1851: First Born
  • 1852: Bounty
  • 1853: Moustique
  • 1854: Nancy
  • 1855: Monarque
  • 1856: Nat
  • 1857: Florin
  • 1858: Brocoli
  • 1859: Bakaloum
  • 1860: Gustave
  • 1861: Isabella
  • 1862: Stradella
  • 1863: Stentor
  • 1864: Baronella
  • 1865: Gontran
  • 1866: Puebla
  • 1867: Nicolet
  • 1868: Gouvernail
  • 1869: Consul
  • 1870: Valois
  • 1871: no race
  • 1872: Revigny
  • 1873: Sire
  • 1874: Novateur
  • 1875: Saint Cyr
  • 1876: Enguerrande
  • 1877: Fontainebleau
  • 1878: Clementine
  • 1879: Zut
  • 1880: Le Destrier
  • 1881: Promethee
  • 1882: Barbe Bleu

Poule d'Essai des Poulains
  • 1883: Regain
  • 1884: Archiduc
  • 1885: Xaintrailles
  • 1886: Gamin
  • 1887: Brio
  • 1888: Reyezuelo
  • 1889: Phlegethon
  • 1890: Heaume
  • 1891: Le Hardy
  • 1892: Fra Angelico
  • 1893: Le Nicham
  • 1894: Beaujolais
  • 1895: Launay
  • 1896: Arreau
  • 1897: Indian Chief
  • 1898: Rodilard
  • 1899: Perth
  • 1900: Governor
  • 1901: Cheri
  • 1902: Retz
  • 1903: Vinicius
  • 1904: Gouvernant
  • 1905: Val d'Or
  • 1906: Eider
  • 1907: Ouadi Halfa
  • 1908: Monitor
  • 1909: Verdun
  • 1910: Sifflet
  • 1911: Lord Burgoyne
  • 1912: De Viris
  • 1913: Dagor
  • 1914: Listman
  • 1915–18: no race
  • 1919: McKinley
  • 1920: Pendennis
  • 1921: Le Traquet
  • 1922: Mont Blanc
  • 1923: Sir Gallahad
  • 1924: Tapin
  • 1925: Faraway
  • 1926: Asterus
  • 1927: Fiterari
  • 1928: Dark Lantern
  • 1929: Vatout
  • 1930: Xandover
  • 1931: Indus
  • 1932: Le Becau
  • 1933: Rodosto
  • 1934: Brantome
  • 1935: Kant
  • 1936: Davout
  • 1937: Drap d'Or
  • 1938: Gaspillage
  • 1939: Mac Kann
  • 1940: Djebel
  • 1941: Panipat
  • 1942: Hexton
  • 1943: Dogat
  • 1944: Prince Bio
  • 1945: Mistral
  • 1946: Pactole
  • 1947: Tourment
  • 1948: Rigolo
  • 1949: Amour Drake
  • 1950: Tantieme
  • 1951: Free Man
  • 1952: Guersant
  • 1953: Cobalt
  • 1954: Cote d'Or
  • 1955: Klairon
  • 1956: Buisson Ardent
  • 1957: Tyrone
  • 1958: Pres du Feu
  • 1959: Thymus
  • 1960: Mincio
  • 1961: Right Royal
  • 1962: Adamastor
  • 1963: Relko
  • 1964: Neptunus
  • 1965: Cambremont
  • 1966: Soleil
  • 1967: Blue Tom
  • 1968: Zeddaan
  • 1969: Don II

See also

References
  1. "Poule d'Essai des Poulains". The French Black Type. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  2. "1868 Poule d'Essai". Ruff's Guide to the Turf for 1869. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  3. "1882 Poule d'Essai". Le Figaro (in French). 24 April 1882. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  4. "1883 Poule d'Essai des Poulains". Le Figaro (in French). 23 April 1883. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  5. "Courses à Chantilly". Le Gaulois (in French). 22 May 1917. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  6. "1917 Critérium d'Essai des Poulains". Le Gaulois. 22 May 1917. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  7. "Djebel enlève le Prix d'Essai". Le Matin (in French). 28 October 1940. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  8. "Résultats de samedi, au Tremblay". Le Matin. 17 May 1943. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  9. "La journée des Poules d'Essai à Maisons-Laffitte". Le Matin (in French). 13 May 1944. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
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