Blueblood Pedigrees Shine as Henri Matisse and Zarigana Capture French Guineas at ParisLongchamp

Coolmore’s colt dug in gamely to win by a head, while the Aga Khan’s filly held on by just a nose

Henri Matisse Dug In Along the Rail to Shine in France / COOLMORE

PARIS, Francia (Special for Turf Diario).- The European racing season is now in full swing, and Sunday at ParisLongchamp featured two of its most iconic landmarks with the running of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, both contested over a mile on good turf.

Each race delivered thrilling stretch runs and winners whose pedigrees were nothing short of elite. In the colts’ division, Henri Matisse provided another memorable moment for the Ballydoyle team, while Zarigana carried the Aga Khan silks to glory in a photo-finish that sent the local crowd into raptures.

A son of Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) and a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) winner last November at Del Mar, Henri Matisse lived up to his favoritism with an impressive late kick. He needed every bit of it, however, to wear down Jonquil (Lope de Vega) and get up by a head in 1:33.91—a new stakes record.

Trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, the Coolmore representative is out of the champion Immortal Verse (Pivotal), making him a half-brother to G1 winner Tenebrism (Caravaggio) and the unbeaten G2 winner Statuette (Justify).

If the colt's race was tight, the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches proved even more dramatic, as Zarigana caught Shes Perfect (Sioux Nation) right on the wire. The latter had just overtaken long-time leader and stablemate Mandanaba (Ghaiyyath), only to be denied in the final stride.

With Mickael Barzalona giving a perfectly timed ride and Francis-Henri Graffard overseeing her training, Zarigana brought a prestigious family back into the spotlight. The daughter of Zarak (Dubawi) is out of Zarkamiya (Frankel), a Listed winner and G1-placed mare, and a daughter of none other than the unbeaten champion Zarkava (Zamindar). Zarkava also produced G1 winner and leading sire Zarak and the stakes-winning Zaykava (Siyouni).