THE identity of the best three-year-old miler in Europe remains less than clear after the two equivalents of the Guineas in France at the weekend.

Persian King duly won the Poule d’Essai des Poulains at odds-on, but by just a length from Shaman, and probably ran to a slightly lower level than Magna Grecia – whom he had beaten by a neck at two – managed in the Guineas at Newmarket.

Plenty were quick to “blame” the ground at ParisLongchamp, which was officially “heavy” but was nowhere near that judged on times. Nonetheless, the surface was on the easy side, for sure, and Persian King was workmanlike rather than impressive.

FASTER

The Poulains was at least run at a true pace, and what you saw was very largely what you got on the day. Persian King’s time was 1.91s faster than that put up by Castle Lady in winning the Pouliches a bit later on the card, and is worth a 119 timefigure with no sectional upgrade. San Donato in third confirmed previous sectional impressions that he was of this calibre and seems likely to be as effective at seven furlongs.

Castle Lady is unbeaten after three now, with a classic to her name, and deserves a good deal of credit. However, the Pouliches was a steadily-run race, in which she was slightly better placed than runner-up Commes, who she beat by just a nose, and even after sectional upgrading she gets a figure of just 112 (Commes on 113). Better still will be needed for the top mile filly races this summer.

The time of the Prix de Saint-Georges earlier on the card suggests the straight Abbaye course was softer. Sestilio Jet came out on top, with an estimated 112 timefigure, raised to 114 on sectionals (the field all finished on the slow side).

Gold Vibe was only fourth here and continues to look flattered by his second in the Abbaye itself, a race in which the leaders overdid things much more than even here.