Jockey Cristian Demuro guides Coeursamba to victory. PIC: SCOOPDYGA
In the colours of Abdullah bin Fahad Ah Al Attiyah, Coeursamaba (The Wow Signal x Marechale) won the French Classic Pouled’Essai des Poulicheswith a showstopping acceleration at ParisLongchamp yesterday.
She was giving her trainer Jean-Claude Rouget his fifth win in this French Classic for 3-yearold fillies run over 1,600m. She was ridden by the Italian jockey Cristian Demuro. Coeursamba had a perfect race, coming up in between King’s Harlequin (Camelot x Swift Action) and the Irish runner and 1000 Guineas winner at Newmarket two weeks previously, Mother Earth (Zoffany x Many Colours), in the closing stages.
She flew away in the final metres, pulling a length and a quarter clear of Mother Earth trained by A P O’Brien and ridden by Christophe Soumillon. Kennella (Kendargent x Ella Diva), who is trained in Chantilly by Nicolas Caullery took an excellent third placewith Theo Bachelot in the saddle, a short head in front of Sweet Lady (Lope De Vega x High Heel Sneakers). “Steward’s enquiry in the Arc, steward’s enquiry in the Poule... indeed!” laughed JeanClaude Rouget.
“I wasn’t too worried for this one. The filly was in great shape. We gave her the entire winter off and sent her to the stud. We couldn’t get her back in very early, but that didn’t worry me too much as she ran quite a lot as a 2-year-old. I picked the Prix du Louvre (Class 1) for her seasonal comeback, with orders to give her a gentle race. Everything went well for her today: a good draw, in good physical condition She has experience, and that matters in these kinds of races.
"We are very happy. It was somewhat unknown territory coming into the race, as it was a very open competition. Before the race I said to Paul Basquin (racing manager for the owner) that we could be first or second, or quickly find ourselves seventh or eighth! We are very pleasantly surprised. I was surprised by the acceleration that she showed – twice! She showed double the acceleration of some very good fillies. It’s interesting for the rest of the season to come. I didn’t enter her in the Coronation Stakes (Gr1), due to the complications caused by Covid. We will see what the next step is after a discussion with her connections. I don’t think that she will run in the Prix de Diane (Gr1) as she has limited stamina, but Ascot is a possibility.”
