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/ Timeform / 14 May 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Maqaasid looks the leading British contender in Sunday's Pouliches
"the leading British contender appears to be Maqaasid, who finished third behind Blue Bunting on the Rowley Mile."
It's French Guineas day at Longchamp on Sunday. Timeform's Paul Robson looks at the contenders for the fillies race, the Poules d'Essai des Pouliches...
After the recent defection of Memory, who is reportedly in season, the leading British contender appears to be Maqaasid, who finished third behind Blue Bunting on the Rowley Mile last time. John Gosden's filly was travelling best of all two furlongs out at Newmarket but didn't quite come out of the Dip as strongly as her rider Richard Hills would have liked and, with the flatter track in France likely to be more suitable, she goes there with a leading chance.
Rod Collet will try to emulate his father's success in 1981 when he saddles 1000 Guineas fourth Nova Hawk. However, though she ran creditably at Newmarket, her pedigree does suggest she's likely to be suited by further than a mile in time and perhaps the Prix Diane (French Oaks) could be the race for her.
Ed Dunlop, who won the Pouliches in 1996 with Ta Rib, will be hoping Sharnberry can progress from her Fred Darling second to Rimth and follow suit. Unlike Nova Hawk, however, she will also have to prove her stamina, having looked as if she may prove best at 7f that day. She will also do well to reverse from with the winner, too. Paul Cole's Rimth, who had to be supplemented, was one of the best recent Fred Darling winners and is right up there in terms of ratings, but, she's another who will be hoping for a test of speed.
Another Britain challenger is the unexposed Zoowraa, who makes her debut for Godolphin. A winner of both of her starts at two for Michael Jarvis, including a taking performance in the listed Radley Stakes, she's certainly an interesting contender.
Like Memory, 1000 Guineas seventh Moonlight Cloud was another missing from the declarations for Sunday's race, but, the French still have a strong challenger in the shape of Helleborine, who represents the same connections as last year's dual 1000 Guineas winner Special Duty. Although a beaten favourite twice in her last two outings (both in Group races), her form with Moonlight Cloud, to whom she finished second in the Prix Imprudence, gives her every chance.
The home team's challenge will also be bolstered by Golden Lilac, who will be bidding to give Andre Fabre his third win in the race. Ridden by Maxime Guyon on all three starts so far, including when comfortably landing a Group 3 at Longchamp on her reappearance (beating the reopposing Espiritia), she certainly comes into consideration.
Timeform look at what's in store over the next week, starting with the French Guineas meeting at Longchamp and ending with the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on Saturday night.......
It's just over two weeks since Frankel's demolition job in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and, on Sunday, Longchamp stages the French equivalent, the Poule d'Essai des Poulains. Timeform's Paul Robson looks at the main contenders, including a strong contingent aiming to bring the crown back across the English Channel....
Phil Thompson brings you another three horses that have caught the eye of the Timeform reporters.......
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