Godolphin Dominate French Classics – 300th G1 Winner

Tara Madgwick - Monday May 13
The global winning run enjoyed by Godolphin continued overnight in France at Longchamp when they won both of the French Guineas classics for colts and fillies and racked up their 300th Group I win worldwide.

The Group I Poule d'Essai des Poulains for was won by Kingman colt Persian King, who made it five wins and a second from six starts when taking the one mile feature by a length on heavy ground.

"The ground didn't help, as Persian King has a beautiful action, but he showed courage and consistency. He's a game horse as you can see. He's in all the big races, but the Prix du Jockey Club is very tempting and he looks like he'd stay another quarter of a mile," said Andre Fabre.

Bred by the Wildenstein family, Persian King ended last year as one of the most exciting horses in Europe on the back of his defeat of subsequent Group I winner Magna Grecia at Newmarket in the Group III Autumn Stakes, a performance which led Godolphin to buy a half share in the blue-blooded colt.

Castle Lady gives Godolphin their 300th Group I winner - image Godolphin TwitterPersian King is the first winner for Pretty Please, a three-quarter sister by Dylan Thomas to Group I winner Planteur from the family of Arc winner Peintre Celebre.

35 minutes after Persian King saluted, three year-old Shamardal filly Castle Lady won the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches by a nose to remain undefeated with three wins in as many starts becoming the 300th Group I winner for Godolphin.

Trained by Henri Pantall, she justified her 36,000euros supplementary fee to gain a start in the race and is quoted at 9-2 for forthcoming French Oaks next month, although she may stick to 1m with the Group I Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot a likely target.

A homebred for Godolphin, Castle Lady is a half-sister to stakes-winner Top Score and is the second winner from Elusive Quality mare Windsor County, a full sister to Godolphin's Group I Breeders Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass.





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