The
global winning run enjoyed by Godolphin continued overnight in France at Longchamp
when they won both of the French Guineas classics for colts and fillies and
racked up their 300th Group I win worldwide.
The Group I Poule d'Essai des Poulains for was won by Kingman colt Persian
King, who made it five wins and a second from six starts when taking the one
mile feature by a length on heavy ground.
"The ground didn't
help, as Persian King has a beautiful action, but he showed courage and
consistency. He's a game horse as you can see. He's in all the big races, but
the Prix du Jockey Club is very tempting and he looks like he'd stay another
quarter of a mile," said Andre Fabre.
Bred by the Wildenstein family, Persian King ended last year as one of the most exciting horses in
Europe on the back of his defeat of subsequent Group I winner Magna Grecia at
Newmarket in the Group III Autumn Stakes, a performance which led Godolphin to
buy a half share in the blue-blooded colt.
Persian King is the first winner for Pretty Please, a three-quarter sister by Dylan
Thomas to Group I winner Planteur from the family of Arc winner Peintre
Celebre.
35 minutes after Persian King saluted, three year-old Shamardal filly Castle
Lady won the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches by a nose to remain undefeated with
three wins in as many starts becoming the 300th Group I winner for
Godolphin.
Trained by Henri
Pantall, she justified her 36,000euros supplementary fee to gain a start in the
race and is quoted at 9-2 for forthcoming French Oaks next month, although she
may stick to 1m with the Group I Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot a likely
target.
A homebred for Godolphin, Castle Lady is a half-sister to stakes-winner Top
Score and is the second winner from Elusive Quality mare Windsor County, a full
sister to Godolphin's Group I Breeders Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass.