11-05-2025
Henri Matisse and Zarigana claim French Classics
Henri Matisse got the better of a thrilling tussle with Jonquil to claim Classic glory in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp.
A strong raiding party crossed the Channel for the French Classic, with Aidan O'Brien's Breeders' Cup hero Henri Matisse at the head of the market following his successful reappearance at Leopardstown at the end of March.
Held up off a strong gallop early on by Ryan Moore, the Wootton Bassett colt made his move from the home turn and quickly ate up the ground to grab the lead inside the final two furlongs.
Andrew Balding's Greenham Stakes winner Jonquil, who had been ridden more prominently by Oisin Murphy, managed to keep himself in the fight and briefly looked set to come out on top as the post loomed, but Henri Matisse triumphed by a head on the line.
The winner returned an industry price of 9-4F and 12-5F on the PMU.
⭕ #ParisLongchamp – Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Gr I)
Henri Matisse (M3 Wootton Bassett) remporte le premier Classique français. Le pensionnaire d'A.P. O'Brien brille pour l'association Magnier, Tabor, Smith et Merriebell.
🥈Jonquil
🥉Camille Pissarro #Emirates #UAE
— France Galop (@francegalop) May 11, 2025
O'Brien told Sky Sports Racing: "We were delighted. He's a horse that doesn't like to be in front too long and obviously it was a nice, even pace and we were hoping it was going to be like that because he was going to be ridden back.
"When the pace is strong and even, usually if you have the best horse you have a chance. There was going to be no traffic for everybody, but when you're riding back you're never sure you're going to get there. I'm never confident, I'm always hopeful, but Ryan gave him a brilliant ride."
O'Brien, claiming his sixth winner of the race and first since St Mark's Basilica struck gold in 2021, also saddled the third home Camille Pissarro, with the Charlie Fellowes-trained Luther not far behind in fourth.
Charlie Fellowes described his "heartbreak" after Shes Perfect was demoted from first place in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.
The daughter of Sioux Nation earned herself a tilt at Classic glory finishing a close second to the reopposing Zarigana in the Prix de la Grotte over the course and distance last month.
Zarigana was a hot favourite to confirm her superiority, but just as she had done four weeks ago, Shes Perfect found herself in front from an early stage in the hands of Kieran Shoemark and she had plenty of her rivals on the stretch rounding the home turn.
For a few strides the daughter of Sioux Nation looked like a sitting duck in the straight, but to her credit she kept responding to Shoemark's urging and while Zarigana came at her fast and late, Shes Perfect passed the post a nose in front.
That sparked scenes of wild celebration, but the joy proved short lived as Zarigana's rider Mickael Barzalona lodged an objection after the race and following an inquiry, the result was amended.
Zarigana returned an industry price of 11-10F and 4-5F on the PMU.
⭕ #ParisLongchamp – Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Gr I)
Suspense incroyable ! Shes Perfect franchit le poteau en tête mais, après enquête, est rétrogradée pour avoir gêné Zarigana (F3 Siyouni), qui s'impose pour les Aga Khan Studs. Mandanaba complète le podium #Emirates
— France Galop (@francegalop) May 11, 2025
Fellowes said: "Obviously at the moment it's heartbreak more than anything.
"I thought I'd won my first Group One and I don't really know what to think at the moment. I've seen the replay and in England I don't think the result would be changed, but we know the French rules are stricter than ours.
"There definitely was a bump, but did it affect the result? I don't believe so, but the stewards felt that it did."
On whether connections will consider a potential appeal, Fellowes added: "I don't know the rules, I need to get some advice from people that are better placed in France than I am and we'll go from there.
"If we think there's any point in appealing then we'll have to consider it, but it's not my area of expertise."
France Galop's Samuel Fargeat explained the stewards had assessed two incidents, the first involving Shes Perfect, fourth-placed Exactly and Zarigana, who all appeared to get close, before the last two fillies also came together towards the line.
The stewards decided the first incident had impacted the result but the second had not, and Zarigana's trainer Francis-Henri Graffard felt his filly had been "unbalanced at the wrong time".
He told Sky Sports Racing: "Obviously it was a tough few minutes and we don't like to win like this and I feel sorry for the connections of Shes Perfect because they had the joy, but this is sport and this is racing and it has happened to me in the past.
"To be fair, my filly, when she came, she got really unbalanced at the wrong time and in the end it was only a nose.
"It was a decision in the stewards' room, but I'm very happy for this filly especially. There was a lot of expectation and she deserves a win like that. It would have been very frustrating to be second and beaten a nose and for the team at home it's really good.
"It's quite hard to really enjoy it, it's more like relief than proper joy."
Zarigana could now make an appearance at Royal Ascot, with her trainer adding: "We'll have to discuss it, I'm not sure she needs to be stepped up in trip, so if we decide to stick to a mile we'll go to Ascot for the Coronation Stakes with her."
