The Poule d'Essai des Poulains is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at Longchamp in May. It is France's equivalent of the 2000 Guineas run in Britain.
History Origins The Poule d'Essai, an event for three-year-old colts and fillies, was established in France in 1840. It was inspired by two races in England, the 2000 Guineas (for colts and fillies) and the 1000 Guineas (for fillies only).
The race was initially staged at the Champ de Mars. Its first running was over one full circuit of the track (about 2,000 metres). It was cut to a three-quarter lap (1,500 metres) in 1841. It was cancelled due to insufficient entries in 1843 and 1844.
The Poule d'Essai was transferred to Longchamp in 1857. It was extended to 1,600 metres in 1867. It was abandoned because of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. It continued to be run until 1882.
Modern version The Poule d'Essai des Poulains was created in 1883, when the Poule d'Essai was divided into two separate races. The "Poulains" was restricted to colts, and the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches was reserved for fillies.
The events were cancelled throughout World War I, with no runnings from 1915 to 1918. There were two 1,800-metre replacement races at Chantilly in 1917. The version for colts was called the Critérium d'Essai des Poulains.
The "Poulains" and "Pouliches" were not run in the spring of 1940, but a substitute combining both races took place at Auteuil in October. Titled the Prix d'Essai, it was won by the colt Djebel.
The Poule d'Essai des Poulains was held at Le Tremblay in 1943, and Maisons-Laffitte in 1944 and 1945.
The present race grading system was introduced in 1971, and the event was given Group 1 status. It was switched from Longchamp's middle course (moyenne piste) to the main course (grande piste) in 1987.
The leading horses from the Poule d'Essai des Poulains sometimes go on to compete in the Prix du Jockey Club. The last to win both races was St Mark's Basilica in 2021.
Records
Leading jockey (6 wins): Freddy Head – Green Dancer (1975), Red Lord (1976), Blushing John (1988), Linamix (1990), Hector Protector (1991), Shanghai (1992)
Leading trainer (11 wins): Robert Denman – Regain (1883), Archiduc (1884), Vinicius (1903), Gouvernant (1904), Val d'Or (1905), Ouadi Halfa (1907), Lord Burgoyne (1911), Dagor (1913), Le Traquet (1921), Sir Gallahad (1923), Asterus (1926)
Leading owner (8 wins): Edmond Blanc – Arreau (1896), Governor (1900), Vinicius (1903), Gouvernant (1904), Val d'Or (1905), Ouadi Halfa (1907), Lord Burgoyne (1911), Dagor (1913) HH Aga Khan IV – Buisson Ardent (1956), Zeddaan (1968), Kalamoun (1973), Blushing Groom (1977), Nishapour (1978), Ashkalani (1996), Daylami (1997), Sendawar (1999)
Winners since 1970 YearWinnerJockeyTrainerOwner Time 1970 Caro Bill Williamson Albert Klimscha Countess Batthyany 1:41.30 1971 Zug Jean-Claude Desaint John Cunnington Sr. William Hawn 1:37.60 1972 Riverman Jean-Claude Desaint Alec Head Germaine Wertheimer 1:38.60 1973 Kalamoun Henri Samani François Mathet HH Aga Khan IV 1:41.80 1974 Moulines Maurice Philipperon Richard Carver Jr. Junzo Kashiyama 1:43.90 1975 Green Dancer Freddy Head Alec Head Jacques Wertheimer 1:39.30 1976 Red Lord Freddy Head Alec Head Jacques Wertheimer 1:42.30 1977 Blushing Groom Henri Samani François Mathet HH Aga Khan IV 1:41.80 1978 Nishapour Henri Samani François Mathet HH Aga Khan IV 1:46.10 1979 Irish River Maurice Philipperon John Cunnington Jr. Mrs Raymond Adès 1:39.80 1980 In Fijar Georges Doleuze Mitri Saliba Mahmoud Fustok 1:38.40 1981 Recitation Greville Starkey Guy Harwood Anthony Bodie 1:40.70 1982 Melyno Yves Saint-Martin François Mathet Stavros Niarchos 1:38.60 1983 L'Emigrant Cash Asmussen François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 1:46.30 1984 Siberian Express Alfred Gibert André Fabre Mahmoud Fustok 1:35.80 1985 No Pass No Sale Yves Saint-Martin Robert Collet Richard Strauss 1:38.10 1986 Fast Topaze Cash Asmussen Georges Mikhalidès Mahmoud Fustok 1:48.30 1987 Soviet Star Greville Starkey André Fabre Sheikh Mohammed 1:36.20 1988 Blushing John Freddy Head François Boutin Allen Paulson 1:37.20 1989 Kendor Maurice Philipperon Raymond Touflan Adolf Bader 1:36.10 1990 Linamix Freddy Head François Boutin Jean-Luc Lagardère 1:35.90 1991 Hector Protector Freddy Head François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 1:37.60 1992 Shanghai Freddy Head François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 1:38.20 1993 Kingmambo Cash Asmussen François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 1:39.10 1994 Green Tune Olivier Doleuze Criquette Head Jacques Wertheimer 1:37.40 1995 Vettori Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Maktoum Al Maktoum / Godolphin 1:40.40 1996 Ashkalani Gérald Mossé Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 1:37.60 1997 Daylami Gérald Mossé Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 1:42.60 1998 Victory Note John Reid Peter Chapple-Hyam Magnier / Sangster 1:34.50 1999 Sendawar Gérald Mossé Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 1:36.20 2000 Bachir Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 1:39.40 2001 Vahorimix Christophe Soumillon André Fabre Jean-Luc Lagardère 1:35.40 2002 Landseer Michael Kinane Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Magnier 1:36.80 2003 Clodovil Christophe Soumillon André Fabre Lagardère Family 1:36.40 2004 American Post Richard Hughes Criquette Head-Maarek Khalid Abdullah 1:36.50 2005 Shamardal Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 1:39.20 2006 Aussie Rules Kieren Fallon Aidan O'Brien Magnier / Tabor / Salman 1:37.00 2007 Astronomer Royal Colm O'Donoghue Aidan O'Brien Smith / Tabor / Magnier 1:37.10 2008 Falco Olivier Peslier Carlos Laffon-Parias Wertheimer et Frère 1:35.60 2009 Silver Frost Christophe Soumillon Yves de Nicolay John Cotton 1:35.43 2010 Lope de Vega Maxime Guyon André Fabre Gestüt Ammerland 1:36.10 2011 Tin Horse Thierry Jarnet Didier Guillemin Marquesa de Moratalla 1:36.33 2012 Lucayan Stéphane Pasquier François Rohaut Mouknass / Pandora 1:37.11 2013 Style Vendome Thierry Thulliez Nicolas Clément André de Ganay / Baillet 1:34.68 2014 Karakontie Stéphane Pasquier Jonathan Pease Niarchos Family 1:41.06 2015 Make Believe Olivier Peslier André Fabre Prince A A Faisal 1:36.85 2016 The Gurkha Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien Smith / Tabor / Magnier 1:36.97 2017 Brametot Cristian Demuro Jean-Claude Rouget Al Shaqab / Augustin-Normand 1:36.82 2018 Olmedo Cristian Demuro Jean-Claude Rouget Ecurie Antonio Caro & Gerard Augustin-Normand 1:37.72 2019 Persian King Pierre-Charles Boudot André Fabre Godolphin & Ballymore Thoroughbred 1:38.98 2020 Victor Ludorum Mickael Barzalona André Fabre Godolphin 1:34.14 2021 St Mark's Basilica Ioritz Mendizabal Aidan O'Brien Smith / Tabor / Magnier 1:40.15 2022 Modern Games William Buick Charlie Appleby Godolphin 1:34.98 2023 Marhaba Ya Sanafi Mickael Barzalona Andreas Schütz Jaber Abdullah 1:38.56 2024 Metropolitan Alexis Pouchin Mario Baratti Peter R Bradley III & Scuderia Scolari 1:37.84 2025 Henri Matisse Ryan Moore Aidan O'BrienMagnier, Tabor, Smith & Merriebelle Irish Farm 1:33.91 2026RayifMickael BarzalonaFrancis-Henri GraffardAga Khan Studs Scea1:38.63 Faraway Son finished first in 1970, but he was relegated to third place following a stewards' inquiry.
River Mist finished first in 1985, but he was relegated to fourth place following a stewards' inquiry.
Noverre was first in 2001, but he was subsequently disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance.
The 2016 and 2017 runnings took place at Deauville while Longchamp was closed for redevelopment.
The 2020 running took place at Deauville on 1 June as Longchamp was closed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier winners Poule d'Essai
1840: Giges 1841: Fiammetta 1842: Annetta 1843–44: no race 1845: Commodor Napier 1846: Philip Shah 1847: Tronquette 1848: Gambetti 1849: Experience 1850: Saint Germain 1851: First Born 1852: Bounty 1853: Moustique 1854: Nancy 1855: Monarque 1856: Nat 1857: Florin 1858: Brocoli 1859: Bakaloum 1860: Gustave 1861: Isabella 1862: Stradella 1863: Stentor 1864: Baronella 1865: Gontran 1866: Puebla 1867: Nicolet 1868: Gouvernail 1869: Consul 1870: Valois 1871: no race 1872: Revigny 1873: Sire 1874: Novateur 1875: Saint Cyr 1876: Enguerrande 1877: Fontainebleau 1878: Clementine 1879: Zut 1880: Le Destrier 1881: Promethee 1882: Barbe Bleu
Poule d'Essai des Poulains
1883: Regain 1884: Archiduc 1885: Xaintrailles 1886: Gamin 1887: Brio 1888: Reyezuelo 1889: Phlegethon 1890: Heaume 1891: Le Hardy 1892: Fra Angelico 1893: Le Nicham 1894: Beaujolais 1895: Launay 1896: Arreau 1897: Indian Chief 1898: Rodilard 1899: Perth 1900: Governor 1901: Cheri 1902: Retz 1903: Vinicius 1904: Gouvernant 1905: Val d'Or 1906: Eider 1907: Ouadi Halfa 1908: Monitor 1909: Verdun 1910: Sifflet 1911: Lord Burgoyne 1912: De Viris 1913: Dagor 1914: Listman 1915–18: no race 1919: McKinley 1920: Pendennis 1921: Le Traquet 1922: Mont Blanc 1923: Sir Gallahad 1924: Tapin 1925: Faraway 1926: Asterus 1927: Fiterari 1928: Dark Lantern 1929: Vatout 1930: Xandover 1931: Indus 1932: Le Becau 1933: Rodosto 1934: Brantome 1935: Kant 1936: Davout 1937: Drap d'Or 1938: Gaspillage 1939: Mac Kann 1940: Djebel 1941: Panipat 1942: Hexton 1943: Dogat 1944: Prince Bio 1945: Mistral 1946: Pactole 1947: Tourment 1948: Rigolo 1949: Amour Drake 1950: Tantieme 1951: Free Man 1952: Guersant 1953: Cobalt 1954: Cote d'Or 1955: Klairon 1956: Buisson Ardent 1957: Tyrone 1958: Pres du Feu 1959: Thymus 1960: Mincio 1961: Right Royal 1962: Adamastor 1963: Relko 1964: Neptunus 1965: Cambremont 1966: Soleil 1967: Blue Tom 1968: Zeddaan 1969: Don II
See also List of French flat horse races
References
France Galop / Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
External links Race Recordings (1988–2004) youtube.com galop.courses-france.com: 1840–1859, 1860–1889, 1890–1919, 1920–1949, 1950–1979, 1980–present
france-galop.com – A Brief History: Poule d'Essai des Poulains. galopp-sieger.de – Poule d'Essai des Poulains. horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Poule d'Essai des Poulains (2017). pedigreequery.com – Poule d'Essai des Poulains – Longchamp. tbheritage.com – Poule d'Essai des Poulains.