French Guineas winners could be Royal Ascot-bound

Flotilla in action at the Breeders’ Cup last November. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

The French equivalents of the 2000 and 1000 Guineas took place at Longchamp in Paris yesterday, with both races falling to French-trained horses. Both may be seen next at Royal Ascot in QIPCO British Champions Series races.

Style Vendome took the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, or French 2000 Guineas, by a neck for trainer Nicolas Clement who said afterwards: “The obvious next race is the St James’s Palace Stakes at Ascot.”

The Richard Hannon-trained Olympic Glory started favourite, but never got competitive from a very disadvantageous draw.

The Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, or French 1000 Guineas, went to Flotilla, last seen winning at the Breeders’ Cup last November, for trainer Mikael Delzangles. She also won by just a neck.

This was great compensation for Delzangles, who saddled the strongly-fancied What A Name in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas a week earlier only for her to run disappointingly. It has since been discovered that she was heavily in season.

“We’ll see where we go,” said Delzangles after Flotilla’s victory.

“If she stays at 1600 metres (one mile), it will be the Coronation Stakes (at Royal Ascot), or else she could step up for the Diane.”

The Diane is the French Oaks equivalent, run over one mile and a quarter. If Flotilla does go for the Diane, then it could be What A Name that represents the trainer in the Coronation Stakes, race three in the Fillies & Mares division of the QIPCO British Champions Series.