Poule d´Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) Preview

Esoterique

1 (5)	61541-	Flotilla (FR) 191 Won the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile G1 in November last year, with Sky Lantern back in 8th, that would probably put her in with a chance. I have a couple of issues though. One is that that race was on Firm ground, and although she has won on very soft, i should think she would prefer fast ground. 2nd is that she hasn’t had a prep race, and that worries me. A good stall draw though means you cannot dismiss her, especially if she has wintered well.	3	8-13	M Delzangles	C P Lemaire			4/1
2 (10)	374143-	Sage Melody (FR) 171 Sage Melody looks to be a pacemaker for Topaze Blanche, Sage Melody would probably suit 6f maybe 7f, so she is in this purely for her speed, and will probably be burned out by the time they reach 7f	3	8-13	M Delzangles	U Rispoli			66/1
3 (11)	2112-3	Topaze Blanche (IRE) 28 Very highly thought of filly. Needs a strong pace, didn’t get that in her last race, but with Sage Melody in as pacemaker , then she should get that. Perfect draw next to Sage Melody too, so she can drop in behind.	3	8-13	C Laffon-Parias	O Peslier			7/1
4 (12)	2111-2	Tuna Papita (USA) 42 Needs to improve on what she has done to date. But saying that, she hasn’t had her ground yet, and should improve on the drier surface. Although her stall draw is a little high, she is next door to Topaze Blanche, and if she stays close, she could go well. Not a horse to dismiss lightly and could be a nice e/w bet at those odds.	3	8-13	Francois Rohaut	T Thulliez			33/1
5 (17)	16-1	Zurigha (IRE) 29 Awful draw, and needs a bit to find on her previous form. I personally will not be backing her. But Hannon/Hughes combo have been firing on all cylinders lately. And she has beaten Cocktail Queen soundly last time out. She is the best of the British.	3	8-13	R Hannon	R Hughes	95		28/1
6 (19)	1-13	Vaunoise (IRE) 35 This filly looks interesting, but her stall draw screams that it’s not worth the bet. Not too much to go on, as like some of the others, she will need to improve a bit, but she was only beaten by 3/4L last time out. I just think that the stall draw is against her and will have to strike her off the list for that reason alone. But she could surprise.	3	8-13	J C Rouget	G Benoist			50/1
7 (9)	1162-15	Show Gorb (SPA) 38 Quite a high price for a filly that was only 1 3/4L 5th behind the winner in a G3 race last time out, she had been short of room to last 100yards and couldn’t quite reach the winner. If she had got the room, she would of been at least 3rd. Has been brought with this race in mind, and stall draw isn’t too bad either.	3	8-13	P Sogorb	Fx Bertras			33/1
8 (18)	3	Spinacre (IRE) 38 Spinacre came even closer than Show Gorb last time out and was only 1/2L 3rd behind What A Name. That puts her in with a chance, however stall 18 makes her life very tough. In this instance i would probably side with Show Gorb reversing that form	3	8-13	P Bary	G Mosse	101		25/1
9 (20)	5463-32	Meri Shika (FR) 35 She would have a lot to do on previous form as it is, without the hindrance of stall 20.	3	8-13	J Bertran De Balanda	A Hamelin			66/1
10 (14)	111-2	Tasaday (USA) 28 Tasaday has been running very well, and although unknown on a drier surface, she could go well. She is quite high in price, but that could be because Guyon has chosen Esoterique over Tasaday. But i am not sure you can completely dismiss Tasaday, and e/w could be possible.	3	8-13	A Fabre	M Barzalona			12/1
11 (13)	182-1	Morning Frost (IRE) 59 Big step up in class, and a lot more needed here	3	8-13	C Ferland	J Auge			40/1
12 (4)	31711-3	Melbourne Memories 22 Great stall draw, and could be a nice e/w chance. Hard to tell with her, but she is yet another that will need to show an improvement still.	3	8-13	C G Cox	R L Moore	100		28/1
13 (3)	3315-44	Dauphine Russe (FR) 28 William Buick picks up a spare ride on this filly. I think he is under no illusions that this filly will win, as needs to find a bit. However she is another horse with a great stall draw, and that’s half the battle	3	8-13	F Doumen	William Buick			20/1
14 (1)	4221-51	Baie D'honneur (FR) 16 Plum stall draw, and easy winner last time out in a Listed race, it’s a bit of a leap but we know she stays the mile, her dam is out of Barathea. Both her wins have come at 1m.	3	8-13	B Watrigant	I Mendizabal			16/1
15 (16)	1250-11	Kenhope (FR) 28 Kenhope has beaten a few of these runners today, but only just, and a few of them could well improve from those runs. Plus the fact she is drawn stall 16. So i will have to bypass her, but she is not by any means out of it.	3	8-13	H A Pantall	T Jarnet			11/1
16 (15)	617-265	Kensea (FR) 25 I am guessing Kensea is joining Sage Melody, in making this a very fast run race. That will benefit Kenhope, but Kensea will really have to go out all guns blazing as so wide.	3	8-13	H A Pantall	F Veron			50/1
17 (6)	11	Esoterique (IRE) 14 First choice of Guyon, trained by Andre Fabre, very lethal combination. Never ran as 2 year old, but won her maiden well although if a bit green. Her 2nd race she ran a bit green but still won, even if the trip was just slightly too far. Back down to 1m, and now she has had some experience, she will be hard to beat here.	3	8-13	A Fabre	M Guyon			5/2
18 (2)	41213-1	Alterite (FR) 47 lost out 1/2L in a G1 race, great stall draw. Should be there or thereabouts at the end.	3	8-13	J C Rouget	C Soumillon			5/1
19 (8)	5012-4	Cocktail Queen (IRE) 29 Not convinced she will be there at the end, unless i am missing something. She did come close to Tasaday in a G3.I think she needs some rain too.	3	8-13	D R C Elsworth	J P Spencer	100		33/1
20 (7)	14116-5	Waterway Run (USA) 25 5th behind Hot Snap on reappearance, and Hot Snap done nothing for the form in the Guineas. This filly has a lot to do.	3	8-13	R M Beckett	Jim Crowley	102		25/1

I can’t see the British raiders doing too much here, although they might surprise. I do fancy some big odds to do well here, and i do not think maybe the favourite is as strong as people might think, she will still take a lot of beating though.

My Picks

1^st Esoterique 10/3

2^nd Baie D’Honneur 22/1

3^rd Alterite 6/1

4^th Show Gorb 33/1

5^th Tuna Papita 33/1