ParisLongchamp Sunday

Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Group 1) (3yo Colts) 1m

SUNDAY is shaping up to be a momentous day in European classic history.

There is a strong possibility that for the first time ever both of the first two French classics – the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains and the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches - will, in the same year, fall prey to Irish-trained horses.

More significantly still, if successful, those two Irish raiders will most probably be none other than the winners of the first two English classics, the 2000 and 1000 Guineas.

And, while on the fillies’ side, this double has been achieved three times in the last 35 years, if Poetic Flare wins the Poulains he will, in effect, become the first colt ever to land this cross-Channel classic double.

Yes, one colt, Djebel, did win one mile ‘classics’ in both England and France, but that was way back in 1940 in the midst of the Second World War, and was not really a comparable feat since occupied France was only able to stage one Guineas equivalent, pitting the two sexes against each other, and it was run in late October rather than mid-May.

Flare’s race

The field for the Poulains does not look strong and I fully expect Poetic Flare to inscribe his name in the history books.

He will be his owner/trainer/breeder, Jim Bolger’s, first French runner in almost five years. He will also be only the third Poulains starter for the Co Carlow handler (who saddled his initial Longchamp runner in 1978). The previous two were Vocalised, 10th of 11 in 2009 and Creachadoir, runner-up two years earlier.

The son of Dawn Approach may have held on by just a short-head in the English version, but that is the standout piece of form in this line-up and the prospect of soft ground on Sunday should be of little concern to a horse who won on ‘soft to heavy’ on his debut.

Bolger may feel that he has something of a score to settle with Longchamp’s spring features: but for a narrow defeat in the 2007 Pouliches, Finsceal Beo would have completed an unprecedented English/French/Irish Guineas treble.

And wouldn’t it be incredible if Poetic Flare was able to head to the Curragh on Saturday week with the same achievement still in his sights?

Dewhurst winner

The other Irish representative in the Poulains field is the Dewhurst hero, St Mark’s Basilica.

The form of that Newmarket triumph has taken numerous knocks and the fact that, unlike his three-year-old fillies, Aidan O’Brien’s colts are, almost without exception, needing their comeback races this season, must diminish the chance of a colt not seen on a racecourse for over seven months.

Home team

The home defence centres around the main course and distance trial, April 18th’s Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau, with its first five set to cross swords anew. Policy Of Truth, like St Mark’s Basilica a son of Siyouni, prevailed by a cosy half-length that day, but the runner-up, Sealiway, gave the impression that he was quite badly in need of the race and is taken to reverse the placings.

Sealiway enjoyed a career high when landing the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere by eight lengths here last autumn when the ground was heavy, so any rain will be in his favour.

And don’t discount the Fontainebleau fifth, Parchemin, another who likes to get his toe in.

SELECTION: POETIC FLARE

Next best: Sealiway