Rouhiya ‘s unexpected victory May 12 in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas —G1) provided a perfect illustration of the Aga Khan’s maxim that racing and breeding racehorses is a game of chess with nature.
A month ago Francis Graffard thought he had unearthed his Classic filly when Candala won what is traditionally the strongest prep in a Longchamp group 3. Four days later, Rouhiya finished third in a conditions race at the same track.
Candala didn’t take the expected step forward while Rouhiya flourished for the run and for the return of spring ground, and produced a decisive turn of foot under Maxime Guyon to run down the Brian Meehan-trained Kathmandu . Fellow visitors Vespertilio and Romantic Style were a head and a short neck further back.
“It took a long time to get her out this season because she’s a real good-ground filly and unfortunately I ran out of time and had to run her here on tacky ground in what was really the last option,” said Graffard.
“But she came on a bundle for the run. I really hesitated before committing to this race but Princess Zahra said to me that there’s only one Poule d’Essai and that we should try our luck. It’s my first group 1 for the Aga Khan and it’s a Classic, with a filly I’ve always loved.”
Graffard added: “You make your plans and I knew she was in top form so it’s marvelous. Last year when she won at Deauville I knew she must be good because of the way she finished. I thought I had my filly for the Poule after winning the Grotte with Candala but she needed more time and so I had to shuffle the deck. This filly has really become much stronger and when it came to D Day she was there for us.”
Rouhiya is also entered in the Coronation Stakes and Paddy Power cut the daughter of Lope De Vega from 50-1 to 33-1, while Coral was more impressed and go 12-1.
Asked whether Rouhiya will be asked to step up to 1 5/16 miles in the Prix de Diane (G1), Graffard said: “I don’t know, she might stay further as she’s a filly that can drop the bit and relax. We’ll discuss it among the team and in the meantime enjoy the victory.”
Sean Levey set steady fractions in front aboard Kathmandu, who was last seen finishing third in the Nell Gwyn Stakes, and came within a couple of strides of pulling off a famous victory.
“She’s about the seventh Classic-placed horse I’ve had,” said Meehan with all-too-understandable frustration. “She’s run an absolute cracker. I thought Sean gave her an outstanding ride. That man is riding so well, he’s such a top-flight jockey.
“The team at home have done a wonderful job, because traveling is never easy. The guys in my team have always done it well and all credit to them as well as Ed Babington and Sam Sangster for sending her to me.”
Vespertilio was the only filly in the first seven who was making their seasonal debut and came within half a length of breaking her group 1 duck, following her runner-up effort in the Moyglare (G1) last season.
“(Trainer) Willie McCreery has done a fantastic job to bring the filly here in great condition,” said Kieran Lalor, racing manager for owners Al Shira’aa. “We had a doubt whether she would see out the mile but she’s put that to bed and we’ll see how she is. She’s in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Coronation and I know the owner would love to go to Royal Ascot.”
