Pedigree Watch – French Classics – More Upsets

Tara Madgwick - Monday May 13

In a Euro classic season where nothing is turning out as planned there were more upsets overnight at Longchamp with the running of the French Guineas races and again the favourites never got a look in.

The Group I Poule d’Essai des Poulains (1600m) for the colts saw the Aidan O’Brien trained unbeaten Dubawi colt Henry Longfellow sent off as favourite but he could finish only eighth of 13 with victory going to Zarak colt Metropolitan.

Trained by Mario Baratti and ridden by Alex Puchin, Metropolitan won his only two starts last year and resumed with a fifth in a Group III race last month, improving sharply to score a half length win on a track that received a dumping of rain through a storm just before they jumped.

"He is a magnificent-looking horse and I think he will continue to get better with age," said Baratti. "Being drawn in stall one was a gift from above. I don’t really want to stretch him out, and although he’s not entered in the St James’s Palace, we could look at supplementing him."

Purchased for €78,000 from the Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale, Metropolitan is the second winner from Alianza, an unraced Halling mare from the family of Group winners Tiger Ride and Warm Heart.

He is the 19th stakes-winner for Dubawi’s French bred Group I winning son Zarak and is his third Group I winner. Zarak is a young sire on the up running at 10.3% SW to runner and he stands at Haras de Bonneval at a fee of €60,000.

Advertisement

The Group I Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (1600m) for the fillies was won by an Aga Khan homebred Lope de Vega filly in Rouhiya, who was having her first try in a Black Type race.

Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by Maxime Guyan, she had a win and a placing last season and was third when making her seasonal return at Longchamp last month, she rose to the challenge of this tougher assignment. With the Sangster family colours on Kathmandu (Showcasing)  looking certain for victory, Rouhiya dived through late between runners to snatch a narrow victory.

“We weren't well drawn, but Maxime got a good position very easily and latched onto the back of the Godolphin horse (Romantic Style), and then I thought we had an obvious chance. I thought coming in we were in business, Maxime waited a while but Rouhiya really picked up well. The ground made a huge difference and she had come on loads for her prep run,” Graffard said.

Rouhiya is the second winner from stakes-placed Raven’s Pass mare Rondonia, a half-sister to Group II winner Raydara from stakes-winner Raydiya.

She is the 128th stakes-winner for Lope de Vega and is his 20th Group I winner. Lope de Vega stands at Ballylinch Stud at a fee of €125,000 and did shuttle to Australia in the early years of his career for Patinack Farm. He runs at 10.1% SW to runner.

Advertisment
More Reading...
One for the Pedigree Nerds!
A blueblood stallion by Frankel that cost 1.3million guineas and a 3YO gelding by I Am Immortal that cost $14,000 – what could they possibly have in common other than both winning Group races at Flemington on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Monday October 6
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Everest Runner/New G1 Horse for Hellbent as Invincible Legacy Surges
Hellbent has made a solid start to the new season with 25 winners racking up over $2million in earnings and he will have a runner in the $20million The Everest in two weeks time with Magic Time confirmed for the Inglis slot, while at Randwick last Saturday he added another G1 performer to his tally.
Wootton Bassett G1 Double on Arc Day
The shattering loss of Wootton Bassett (GB) has been highlighted at Longchamp in France on Arc Day where the champion sire added two new Group I winners to his tally in 2YO colt Puerto Rico and the former Aussie owned 3YO colt Maranoa Charlie.
Rising HK Star for Embellish
Bulb General continued his electric form in Hong Kong to bring loftier targets into play for the son of Embellish.
Sires With Winners - Friday October 3
Here is the full list of 61 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch - Warwick Farm
Tassort produced an impressive winner at Warwick Farm on Monday carrying the Trilogy Racing colours that looks well up to a far better grade than this public holiday Monday meeting.
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 4
Here is the full list of 119 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First G1 Winner for St Marks Basilica - 1.7million Filly Undefeated
The top lot at the 2025 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale was a blueblood St Mark’s Basilica filly from blue hen Prudenzia that sold for €1.7million to MV Magnier and she became the first Group I winner for her sire when charging home to win the Group I Prix Marcel Boussac (1600m) at Longchamp.
Hot Lots Day 1 - Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1
The Tattersalls October Yearling Sale (October 7 – 9) kicks off tonight our time and for those interested in the number one  yearling sale in Europe we are taking a look at some of the yearlings tipped to top each day and they include a colt from an Aussie G1 winner.