The Gr.1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches proved to be a dramatic and eventful race, with Zarigana finishing second by a nose after being carried wide in the final stages. Despite this interference, she produced a remarkable turn of foot, completing the final three furlongs in 32.50 seconds and recording the fastest final 200 metres in 11.31 seconds. 

Following a stewards’ inquiry, Zarigana was promoted to first place, securing victory in the 2025 edition of the French 1000 Guineas. Her trainer, Francis-Henri Graffard, commented: “Obviously, it was a tough few minutes and we don’t like to win like this […] I am very happy for this filly, there was a lot of expectation and she deserved a win like that.” 

Mandanaba, representing Princess Zahra Aga Khan, had a much smoother run and delivered an excellent performance to finish third, a career-best on only her third start. She had previously won the Gr.3 Prix Vanteaux, and is the final foal out of Mandesha, a triple Group 1 winner now enjoying retirement at Haras d’Ouilly. Mandanaba could now be aimed at the Gr.1 Prix de Diane, while Zarigana may remain at a mile, with the Gr.1 Coronation Stakes a likely target.

Zarigana is an 11th-generation homebred, tracing back to the legendary Mumtaz Mahal, one of the first yearlings purchased by the Aga Khan III in 1922. This maternal line has left an indelible mark on the thoroughbred world, producing champions such as Petite Etoile, Shergar, and Zarkava - who, remarkably, won the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches 17 years earlier to the day. Zarigana is out of Zarkava’s daughter Zarkamiya, a Listed winner and Group 1 performer, making her a pure product of the Aga Khan Studs, being as she is a daughter of Siyouni. 

This win marks Siyouni’s fourth Poule d’Essai victory, following Ervedya, Dream And Do and St Mark’s Basilica. Siyouni is now the leading active sire of ‘Guineas’ winners in Europe, with seven to his name in total. 

His ability to consistently produce Classic contenders does not go unnoticed at the sales, and on Saturday a Siyouni colt out of Soteria, from the family of Mohaather, was snapped up for €1 million by M V Magnier at the Arqana Breeze Up Sale. The colt, who is a full brother to recent Gr.3 Greenham Stakes third Saracen, was consigned by Mocklershill and represented an excellent pinhooking result, having been purchased at last year’s Arqana October Yearling Sale for €290,000. 

Not to be outdone, Zarak added to his growing résumé with Flatten The Curve, who secured his third consecutive Stakes win in the Gr.2 Oleander-Rennen in Germany. He now looks set for an international campaign, with potential targets including the Gr.2 Belmont Gold Cup in the USA and the Gr.1 Irish St Leger later in the year.