Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Group 1)

THE result of the Pouliches, and in particular the identity of one of the winning owners, may end up having massive significance for the future prosperity of horse racing in France.

Mangoustine, the daughter of Dark Angel who fought off the gallant rally of the pace-setting Cachet to score by a head, carried the colours of the former basketball star, Tony Parker, in the guise of his ‘Infinity Nine Stables’.

Parker’s may not be a name that resonates with the average racing fan, but that is all the better since he could help open up the sport to a whole new audience. And, make no mistake, he is a bona fide global superstar.

In an 18-year career on court, Parker won basketball’s biggest prize, the NBA Finals, on four occasions, all with the San Antonio Spurs and wearing the number 9 shirt, hence the aspirational ‘Infinity Nine’.

Alongside football, basketball is a multi-racial, open-to-all sport played the world over, and if Parker can convince his legion of fans that an afternoon at the races is a cool place to be, the positive repercussions could be huge.

Looking dapper in a cream suit, open-necked shirt and trainers, Parker said afterwards: “To win one of France’s biggest races only a year after first becoming involved in the sport, it’s an enormous achievement.”

Enjoy the show

“Today, I invited everyone into the dressing room so that they can all enjoy the show! And my emotions during the race took me back to my playing days in the NBA!”

“Seeing the smiles on so many faces is magical. To win the Poule d’Essai will allow me to make a dream start to my breeding operation. Since I began this adventure, I always said that I was in it for the long term, my involvement with the Haras de Quetieville proves that.”

“My other filly (Zelda) also ran an incredible race in sixth, it was a big thing for me to have her partnered by Coralie Pacaut, who gave her a brilliant ride and I’m very proud of them both. I’m doing my bit for gender equality!”

Mangoustine, who had clearly improved significantly since finishing behind two of her Pouliches victims when taking third in the Prix de la Grotte on her seasonal debut, was giving trainer Mikkel Delzangles his second victory in the race nine years after he won it with her aunt, Flotilla.

Toughed it out

Delzangles, who only took care of the filly in December when her former trainer Frederic Rossi was caught up in a doping controversy, said: “I had my doubts about her getting the mile but she saw it out really well, she toughed it out when the English filly fought back.”

“I made the mistake of running Flotilla in the Prix de Diane and I won’t be doing that again, so the logical option for her is the Coronation Stakes.”

If she does go to Royal Ascot, she is likely to cross swords anew with Cachet and again be ridden by her Longchamp pilot, 55-year-old Gerald Mosse. He was landing this prestigious prize for the fourth time, but the first time in the 21st century!