A baker's dozen will go forward for Sunday's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and 15 are set to head postward for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches after declarations for the ParisLongchamp Classics were confirmed Friday morning.
Likely favourite for the colts' Classic is G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International hero Puerto Rico (Wootton Bassett), who will be accompanied by Aidan O'Brien stablemate Dorset (Wootton Bassett), as the trainer seeks a seventh win in the contest. They have drawn stalls seven and three, respectively.
The domestic defence is headed by Francis Graffard trainee Rayif (Sea The Moon), who was last seen running third to Puerto Rico in the Lagardere, and he makes his seasonal bow in the toughest of assignments. “I like Rayif, I think he's a nice horse, and he worked really well Tuesday morning,” Graffard said of the Aga Khan Studs homebred, who has been allocated stall one. “It's not ideal to start the season in the Poule d'Essai and it just depends on the ground. If the ground goes too soft I won't run him, if not I think we will start the season there. He will probably not be as fit as horses that have had a few runs, but he's a nice horse and knows Longchamp and, after his recent work, he can have a go.”
Britain's lone contender is the Karl Burke-trained G3 Autumn Stakes winner Hankelow (Night Of Thunder), who will depart from stall five.
Ballydoyle also has two confirmed in the fillies' Classic, with undefeated G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica), drawn in stall three, joined by five-race maiden Venosa (Gun Runner), who will exit stall 10.
Aidan O'Brien's lone victory in the contest came with Rose Gypsy in 2001.
Diamond Necklace encounters Marcel Boussac third Narissa (Siyouni), who ran second to subsequent G1 1000 Guineas runner-up Evolutionist (Night Of Thunder) in the G3 Prix de la Grotte last month. Narissa's trainer Francis Graffard will also saddle Prix de la Grotte sixth Anashkaya (Starspangledbanner). They have drawn stalls nine and five, respectively.
“Narissa is a lovely filly, she's quite tricky in her mind and had hard races last year,” Graffard said earlier this week. “We decided to give her a good comeback from behind and she finished really nicely. The form is strong and she worked well this week too.”
The Christopher Head-trained Marcel Boussac runner-up Green Spirit, who ran fourth in the Prix de la Grotte, has been drawn in stall 14, while there are three challengers from Britain, including Victorious Forever's G2 Rockfel Stakes victrix Zanthos (Sioux Nation), who has drawn stall 11.
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