In Paris this Sunday, the second annual Guineas race will witness the anticipated performance of the undefeated Ballydoyle prodigy, Henry Longfellow, with high hopes of him becoming Aidan O’Brien’s ticket to classic victory. O’Brien’s squad are looking to recover from the disappointing performance by City Of Troy at the Newmarket last weekend. Their hopes now rest on Henry Longfellow who is expected to step out of his fellow horse’s shadow at the €650,000 Poule D’Essai Des Poulains race scheduled at Longchamp for 3.30pm in Irish local time.
This isn’t an unfamiliar scene for the royally bred horse, who is the offspring of Dubawi and Minding. He filled in for City Of Troy last season at the National Stakes at the Curragh, completing a streak of three victories in his juvenile career. While he is usually the favourite at Ballydoyle’s Classic calculations, his performance following City Of Troy’s disappointment will offer him a substantial shot at winning the prized Guineas race.
Renowned jockey, Ryan Moore, will be controlling the reins of Henry Longfellow. He will start from the sixth position in a field of 13 runners, whereas Christophe Soumillon will be riding Diego Velazquez, beginning from the eleventh spot.
During this crucial weekend, which is likely to provide clarity on the upcoming Derby rankings, the main focus of Ballydoyle is to steer the Guineas train back on track. Successful performance by Henry Longfellow, with his superior heritage and flawless two-year-old career, could earn O’Brien his sixth French 2,000 Guineas – the first one since St Mark’s Basilica’s victory three years ago – and set the foundations for a potential future stud career.
As always, victory in a mile-long race remains the premium achievement in the bloodstock business, regardless of the location, be it Newmarket, Longchamp, or the Curragh.
Additionally, O’Brien and Moore are optimistic about the €550,000 Poule D’Essai Des Pouliches taking place at 2.50pm Irish time this Sunday, with their contestant, Content joining the race alongside Vespertilo, the runner-up of Willie McCreery’s Moyglare.
The situation of The Latter’s draw of eleven presents a challenge on the mile-long bend at Longchamp. However, Content managed to secure a more favourable draw of eight. Nevertheless, the cautious tactics that resulted in a somewhat unsuccessful, yet encouraging, performance at the Breeders’ Cup in November might not be the best approach for a French race that typically requires strategic manoeuvring. 2001 saw O’Brien’s single triumph in this event with Rose Gypsy.
Godolphin’s additional Romantic Style appears to be the standout contender for Pouliches, as judged by her win in Deauville last month. Attention in Poulain’s will undeniably be on Henry Longfellow, evaluating whether he can succeed where City Of Troy failed.
The fact that City Of Troy maintains a leading position in Derby betting is likely a testament to the public’s belief in O’Brien’s capacity to recreate the underdog success seen last year with Auguste Rodin. Nonetheless, if Henry Longfellow dominates with a strong victory in France, especially due to his exceptional pedigree from an Oaks champion, there is a real possibility of him overshadowing the former Ballydoyle star.
Even in the event of another disappointing outcome, there may be another stand-out player from the leading stable making a mark on the Epsom situation this weekend.
Paul Smith, a member of the Coolmore “boys”, expressed confidence earlier this week in O’Brien’s squad gaining momentum after their impressive comeback in Newmarket. This belief will face the test in the upcoming Lingfield Derby Trial on Saturday where Illinois (Moore) and The Euphrates (Declan McDonogh) are set to compete in a race previously won by the late Derby hero, Anthony Van Dyck in 2019.
After performing well in the Ballysax last month, O’Brien commented on Friday: “They have followed a similar programme, which resulted in them both starting off in the Ballysax. Illinois has a better record at stage two, but The Euphrates outperformed him last time. They are both expected to go farther now that they’ve both had a run, and it is going to make for quite a spectacle.”
This coming Sunday, a previously undefeated two-year-old Group One champion in Los Angeles will make his comeback during the Cashel Palace Derby Trial at Leopardstown. Last October, the Camelot colt emerged victorious in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud, covering a distance of 10 furlongs. However, the chatter surrounding the Derby becomes secondary as the O’Brien team shifts their focus on this weekend’s Guineas stakes in Paris, especially after the jolt in their confidence delivered by City Of Troy.