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Feature Race Review: Poule d'Essai.

It was a glorious Sunday afternoon at Longchamp where the Godolphin blue shone in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1600m) with Modern Games gaining a second Group One success whilst there was an epic three-way finish in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (1600m) with Mangoustine a narrow winner.

Mangoustine reached the lead where it mattered to record a narrow triumph in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (1600m) by a head.

The Infinity Nine Horses owned filly was one of the quickest runners away from the stalls but Gerald Mosse restrained the filly to allow her settle and she raced in a close sixth position negotiating the first right-handed turn, only three lengths off the leader Cachet who managed to get across from her mid-field draw and set the pace. Mangoustine was well positioned three back and three wide throughout, poised to challenge turning for home.

Cachet showed a determined attitude in the final 300m alongside Times Square who made good headway on the inside. However, the Mikel Delzangles trained filly kept finding more on the outside and in a thrilling three-way head bobbing finish the winning margins were a head and short-head. This was Dark Angel's eleventh top-level success at a stallion. Mangoustine's record is now four wins and one placing from five career outings.

Modern Games posted a second Group One success winning the 2022 G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1600m).

Despite appearing to slip after leaving the stalls, William Buick was able to quickly recover and pushed the colt to share the lead before taking the first turn. There was a strong pace with a four-way chase for the pace setter position. It was a rough race towards the back of the group with a few runners having no luck in running. Texas and Tribalist managed to win the battle for the lead turning for home.

The Godolphin owned three-year-old was in a perfect position from just prior to the home turn and with a gap appearing at the right time, this allowed the son of Dubawi to move up to share the lead with 300m left. Texas provided a strong resistance towards the line, but the Charlie Appleby trained runner was the strongest, going away to score by one and a quarter lengths. He was staying on well. This was his first race since November and will only come on from the race.