Puerto Rico and Diamond Necklace, key names heading toward the French Guineas

The colt and the filly, both representing Coolmore and under the care of Aidan O'Brien, appear as the top candidates for the major challenges next Sunday at ParisLongchamp

Puerto Rico is undefeated and now aims for the French Guineas / COOLMORE

The European classic season is preparing to experience one of its most traditional events this Sunday on the green carpet of ParisLongchamp. With the ratification of the starters for the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (G1) and the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (G1), French turf opens the doors to its first great weekend of the season, where the Ballydoylearmada, led by the invincible Puerto Rico, seeks to consolidate its hegemony against a local resistance that awaits its opportunity for glory in the mythical mile.

In the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (G1), the attention of the racing world centers on Puerto Rico. The son of Wootton Bassett arrives preceded by his victories in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (G1) and the Critérium International (G1), credentials that place him as the undisputed leader of the generation. Aidan O'Brien, who seeks his seventh trophy in this competition, left nothing to chance: the favorite will break from post 7, a strategic position that will allow Ryan Moore to monitor the movements of his rivals from the center.

The Ballydoyle strategy is complemented by the presence of Dorset, also a son of Wootton Bassett, who will start from the 3. However, the challenge for the Irish will come from Rayif, a defender of the Aga Khan silks trained by Francis Graffard.

The son of Sea The Moon, who followed Puerto Rico during his juvenile campaign, will make his seasonal debut from stall number one. Although Graffard expressed that his participation depends on the state of the ground—warning that if the track is too soft he might withdraw him—the colt's morning work last Tuesday left excellent impressions. He is a horse that knows every centimeter of Longchamp and, although he may lack recent racing fitness, his quality invites him to be a protagonist.

On the side of the fillies, the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (G1) presents an equally vibrant scenario. Diamond Necklace, the undefeated daughter of St Mark's Basilica, will attempt to break a drought for the Ballydoyle team that has lasted since the victory of Rose Gypsy (Green Desert) in 2001. The winner of the Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) will start from the 3, which grants her a considerable tactical advantage to dominate the rail early. She will be accompanied by Venosa, a daughter of Gun Runner who, despite remaining a maiden after 5 starts, has the confidence of O'Brien.

The French female resistance has names of their own weight. Narissa (Siyouni), also under the tutelage of Francis Graffard, arrives with the ideal fitness after her second-place finish in the Prix de la Grotte (G3), where she chased the talented Evolutionist (Night of Thunder). "She is a filly with character, but her work this week was fantastic," noted her trainer. Breaking from post 9, Narissa will seek to avenge her third-place finish behind Diamond Necklacein the Boussac.

To this duel is added Green Spirit (Kingman), trained by Christopher Head, who must deal with the difficulty of starting from stall 14, and the British Zanthos (Sioux Nation), winner of the Rockfel Stakes (G2), who represents the greatest threat from the other side of the English Channel starting from the 11.

The French Poules are not just a race; they represent the first major milestone of a calendar that projects its shadows toward the Derby and the Oaks. On a Sunday where speed merges with stamina, Longchamp will be the judge that determines if Puerto Rico and Diamond Necklace are the absolute monarchs of the continent or if the French house has the necessary strength to defend its borders.