Poule d'Essai des Pouliches

History

Origins

The Poule d'Essai, an event for three-year-old colts and fillies, was established in France in 1840. It was inspired by two races in England, the 2000 Guineas (for colts and fillies) and the 1,000 Guineas (for fillies only).

The race was initially staged at the Champ de Mars. Its first running was over one full circuit of the track (about 2,000 metres). It was cut to a three-quarter lap (1,500 metres) in 1841. It was cancelled due to insufficient entries in 1843 and 1844.

The Poule d'Essai was transferred to Longchamp in 1857. It was extended to 1,600 metres in 1867. It was abandoned because of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. It continued to be run until 1882.

Modern version

The modern Poule d'Essai des Pouliches was created in 1883, when the Poule d'Essai was divided into two separate races. The "Pouliches" was restricted to fillies, and the Poule d'Essai des Poulains was reserved for colts.

The events were cancelled throughout World War I, with no runnings from 1915 to 1918. There were two 1,800-metre replacement races at Chantilly in 1917. The version for fillies was called the Critérium d'Essai des Pouliches.

The "Pouliches" and "Poulains" were not run in the spring of 1940, but a substitute combining both races took place at Auteuil in October. Titled the Prix d'Essai, it was won by the colt Djebel.

The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches was held at Le Tremblay in 1943, and Maisons-Laffitte in 1944 and 1945.

The present race grading system was introduced in 1971, and the event was given Group 1 status. It was switched from Longchamp's middle course (moyenne piste) to the main course (grande piste) in 1987.

The leading horses from the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches sometimes go on to compete in the Prix de Diane. Twenty-eight fillies have won both races. The most recent was Blue Rose Cen in 2023.

Records

Leading jockey (8 wins):

• Freddy Head – Ivanjica (1975), Riverqueen (1976), Dancing Maid (1978), Three Troikas (1979), Silvermine (1985), Miesque (1987), Matiara (1995), Always Loyal (1997)

Leading trainer (7 wins):

• Charles Semblat – Esmeralda (1942), Caravelle (1943), Palencia (1944), Corteira (1948), Coronation / Galgala (1949), Corejada (1950), Djelfa (1951)
• Criquette Head-Maarek – Three Troikas (1979), Silvermine (1985), Baiser Vole (1986), Ravinella (1988), Matiara (1995), Always Loyal (1997), Special Duty (2010)

Leading owner (8 wins):

• Marcel Boussac – Esmeralda (1942), Caravelle (1943), Palencia (1944), Corteira (1948), Coronation / Galgala (1949), Corejada (1950), Djelfa (1951), Apollonia (1956)

Winners since 1970

Price Tag finished first in 2006, but she was relegated to third place following a stewards' inquiry. Liliside was first in 2010, but she was placed sixth after a stewards' inquiry. The 2016 and 2017 races took place at Deauville while Longchamp was closed for redevelopment. The 2020 running took place at Deauville on 1 June as Longchamp was closed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shes Perfect finished first in 2025, but she was relegated to second place following a stewards' inquiry.

Earlier winners

• 1883: Stockholm
• 1884: Yvrande
• 1885: Barberine
• 1886: Sakountala
• 1887: Tenebreuse
• 1888: Widgeon
• 1889: May Pole
• 1890: Wandora
• 1891: Primrose
• 1892: Kairouan
• 1893: Tilly
• 1894: Calceolaire
• 1895: Andree
• 1896: Riposte
• 1897: Roxelane
• 1898: Polymnie
• 1899: Sesara
• 1900: Semendria
• 1901: La Camargo
• 1902: Kizil Kourgan
• 1903: Rose de Mai
• 1904: Xylene
• 1905: Princesse Lointaine
• 1906: Sais
• 1907: Madree
• 1908: Sauge Pourpree
• 1909: Ronde de Nuit
• 1910: Vellica
• 1911: Bolide
• 1912: Porte Maillot
• 1913: Banshee
• 1914: Diavolezza
• 1915–18: no race
• 1919: Galejade
• 1920: Flowershop
• 1921: Nephthys
• 1922: Frisky
• 1923: Anna Bolena
• 1924: Rebia
• 1925: La Dame de Trefle
• 1926: Mackwiller
• 1927: Fairy Legend
• 1928: Roahouga
• 1929: Poesie
• 1930: Rose The
• 1931: Pearl Cap
• 1932: Ligne de Fond
• 1933: Bipearl
• 1934: Mary Tudor
• 1935: The Nile
• 1936: Blue Bear
• 1937: Colette Baudoche
• 1938: Feerie
• 1939: Yonne
• 1940: no race
• 1941: Longthanh
• 1942: Esmeralda
• 1943: Caravelle
• 1944: Palencia
• 1945: Nikellora
• 1946: Real
• 1947: Imprudence
• 1948: Corteira
• 1949: Coronation / Galgala *
• 1950: Corejada
• 1951: Djelfa
• 1952: Pomare
• 1953: Hurnli
• 1954: Virgule
• 1955: Dictaway
• 1956: Apollonia
• 1957: Toro
• 1958: Yla
• 1959: Ginetta
• 1960: Timandra
• 1961: Solitude
• 1962: La Sega
• 1963: Altissima
• 1964: Rajput Princess
• 1965: La Sarre
• 1966: Right Away
• 1967: Gazala
• 1968: Pola Bella
• 1969: Koblenza

• The 1949 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.

References

• France Galop / Racing Post:
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• galop.courses-france.com:
  • 1883–1889, 1890–1919, 1920–1949, 1950–1979, 1980–present

• france-galop.com – A Brief History: Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.
• galopp-sieger.de – Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (2017).
• pedigreequery.com – Poule d'Essai des Pouliches – Longchamp.
• tbheritage.com – Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.

References

1. "Poule d'Essai des Pouliches".
2. "1868 Poule d'Essai". Ruff's Guide to the Turf for 1869.
3. (24 April 1882). "1882 Poule d'Essai". [[Le Figaro]].
4. (23 April 1883). "1883 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches". Le Figaro.
5. (22 May 1917). "Courses à Chantilly". [[Le Gaulois]].
6. (22 May 1917). "1917 Critérium d'Essai des Pouliches". Le Gaulois.
7. (28 October 1940). "Djebel enlève le Prix d'Essai". [[Le Matin (France).
8. (17 May 1943). "Résultats de samedi, au Tremblay". Le Matin.
9. (13 May 1944). "La journée des Poules d'Essai à Maisons-Laffitte". Le Matin.