Poule d'Essai des Poulains: Where did they come from?

A diverse field is led by the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Modern Games (Ire) and ranging from some fancy homebreds to a €5,000 yearling purchase. Iffraaj (GB) features prominently among the entries for the colts' Classic, as sire, grandsire or great-grandsire of six of the 16 runners in the field.

WELWAL (GB), Shalaa (Ire)–Cheriearch (Arch)
Owner: Al Shaqab Racing
Breeders: Oceanic, A Gravereaux and OTI Management
Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget
Sales history: €80,000 at Arqana Deauville Select Yearling Sale (Mandore International Agency).
Pedigree insight: A half-brother to the stakes-placed duo of Epistrophy (Fr) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) and Chic Cherie (Fr) (Muhaarar {Ire}) out of a listed-winning miler.

SCHERZO (FR), Wootton Bassett (GB)–Persian Belle (GB) (Machiavellian)
Owner: Al Wasmiyah Farm
Breeders: T de la Heronniere, Mme D and A de la Heronniere
Trainer: Elias Mikhailides
Sales history: €70,000 at Arqana Deauville Select Yearling Sale (private sale), €420,000 Arqana Arc Sale (Charles Gordon-Watson Bloodstock).
Pedigree insight: Group 2 winner Volta (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Group 1-placed Calvados Blues (Fr) (Lando {Ger}) are among his seven winning half-siblings. Their unraced dam is sister to American Grade II winner Beautyandthebeast (GB) and half to German Group 1 winner and sire Neatico (Ger) (Medicean {GB}).

TEXAS (FR), Wootton Bassett (GB)–Texalova (GB) (Dream Ahead)
Owner: Ecurie Jeffroy
Breeders: SCEA Prairies, T Jeffroy, B Jeffroy
Trainer: Henri Devin
Sales history: not sold at €110,000, Arqana Deauville Select Yearling Sale.
Pedigree insight: A third generation homebred for the Jeffroy family, he is the second foal of an unraced half-sister to Meydan Group 2 winner Frankyfourfingers (Fr) (Sunday Break {Jpn}).

NIRLIIT (FR), Iffraaj (GB)–Llanita (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire})
Owner: Ecurie La Vallee Martigny EARL, Guy Pariente, Ecurie de Pradel, Bernard Giraudon
Breeders: Ecurie La Vallee Martigny EARL
Trainer: Christophe Escuder
Sales history: N/A
Pedigree insight: Half-sister Almeida Girl (GB) (Temple City) was a multiple winner and listed-placed, giving Llanita two black-type performers from her first two foals. The mare was herself stakes-placed, both in France and America.

MAKING MOVIES (IRE), Dabirsim (Fr)–Grace Lady (Fr) (Muhtathir {Fr})
Owner: Ecurie Hugo and Pierre Pilarski and Jean-Philippe Dubois
Breeders: Jean-Philippe Dubois
Trainer: Didier GuilleminSales history:  €125,000 at Arqana Deauville Select Yearling Sale (private sale).
Pedigree insight: A half-brother to the Group 2-placed duo of Epic Hero (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Alhadab (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), his dam won the G2 Prix Corrida and is herself out of a winning hurdler.

NESR SHALGHODA (GB), Due Diligence–Lady Macduff (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB})
Owner: Elbashir Salem AB Elhari
Breeder: Whitsbury Manor Stud
Trainer: Romain Le Dren Doleuze
Sales history: 9,000gns Tattersalls December Foal Sale, £16,000 Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, 45,000gns Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale.
Pedigree insight: A family synonymous with Hampshire's Whitsbury Manor Stud; granddam Tamora (GB) (Dr Fong) is a half-sister to the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner Gilt Edge Girl (GB) (Monsieur Bond {Ire}) and G2 Flying Childers winner Godfrey Street (GB) (Compton Place {GB}).

MODERN GAMES (IRE), Dubawi (Ire)–Modern Ideals (GB) (New Approach {Ire})
Owner/Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Pedigree insight: The GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner is a half-brother to recent listed winner Modern News (GB) (Shamardal) and Saturday's 'TDN Rising Star' Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), while their dam is a half-sister to the French-based stallion and former champion juvenile Ultra (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}).

TRIBALIST (GB), Farhh (GB)–Fair Daughter (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire})
Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Car Colston Hall Stud
Trainer: Andre Fabre
Sales history: 130,000gns at Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Book 3 (Stroud Coleman Bloodstock).
Pedigree insight: Tribalist is the first foal of an unraced half-sister to G1 Racing Post Trophy winner Crowded House (GB) (Rainbow Quest) and to the dam of Group/Grade 1 winners Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Ticker Tape (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}).

THE ACROPOLIS (IRE), Churchill (Ire)–Hairy Rocket (GB) (Pivotal {GB})
Owner: Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg
Breeder: Frank Dunne
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Sales history: €140,000 at Goffs November Foal Sale (Camas Park Stud).
Pedigree insight: The dam won twice and was third in the G2 Queen Mary S. She is a half-sister to Rockliffe Stud's listed-placed Marsh Hawk (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who is in turn the dam of the stakes-placed Mohawk King (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}).

LASSAUT (FR), Almanzor (Fr)–Lady Family (Fr) (Sinndar {Ire})
'TDN Rising Star'.
Owner/Breeder: Riviera Equine SARL and Haras d'Etreham
Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget
Sales history: Bought back by his breeder at €67,000 at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale.
Pedigree insight: His dam is a half-sister to Group 2-winning sprinter Family One (Fr) (Dubai Destination), while his granddam's half-sister has produced the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner G Force (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) and Group 3 winner Louvain (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}), who is herself the dam of Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Flotilla (Fr) (Mizzen Mast).

CLAYMORE (FR), New Bay (GB)–Brit Wit (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire})
Owner: Mary Slack
Breeder: Günther Schmidt
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam
Sales history: €5,000 at the Arqana October Yearling Sale (Ardglas Stables), £10,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-up Sale (Mutlaq Menahi Almutairi).
Pedigree insight: His dam is an unraced daughter of Listed Harvest S. winner Brisk Breeze (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}).

CALIF (GER), Arion (Ger)–Cherry Danon (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire})
Owner: Stall Hanse
Breeder: Gestut Brummerhof
Trainer: Dominik Moser
Sales history: Not sold at €95,000, BBAG September Yearling Sale.
Pedigree insight: His dam was a Group 3-winning miler and runner-up in the German 1000 Guineas before going on to produce four black-type horses. Granddam Sherifa (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) is a full-sister to the dam of multiple Group 2 winner and sire Sommerabend (GB) (Shamardal).

ANCIENT ROME, War Front–Gagnoa (Sadler's Wells)
Owner: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier and Westerberg
Breeder: Orpendale, Chelston and Wyatt
Trainer: Andre Fabre
Sales history: N/A
Pedigree insight: His full-sister Etoile is a Group 3 winner over six furlongs, but there is also stamina in the family. His dam, who was runner-up to Zarkava (Fr) in the Prix de Diane, is a three-parts-sister to Derby winner Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}).

ROCK BOY (Fr), Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire)–Frasque (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB})
Owner: Team Calas
Breeder: Legendary Rent Club
Trainer: Richard Chotard
Sales history: Bought for €16,000 at the Arqana October Yearling Sale (Guy Petit).
Pedigree insight: He is one of two black-type performers for his dam, along with the G2 Derby Italiano placegetter Alastor (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) from her first three foals. Frasque, a minor winner over a mile, is a half-sister to G3 Prix Thomas Bryon winner Makaan (Swain).

BAYSIDE BOY (IRE), New Bay (GB)–Alava (Ire) (Anabaa)
Owner: Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud
Breeder: Ballylinch Stud
Trainer: Roger Varian
Sales history: 200,000gns graduate from Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale (Richard Ryan).
Pedigree insight: His half-brother Forest Ranger (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) was a dual G2 Huxley S. winner. They are out of a French listed winner over 9 1/2 furlongs who now has three black-type performers to her credit.

TUMBLER (FR), Kingman (GB)–Distorion (GB) (Distorted Humor)
'TDN Rising Star'.
Owner/Breeder: Wertheimer & Frere
Trainer: Carlos Laffon-Parias
Pedigree insight: Tumbler has two listed-placed half-siblings and his dam is a half-sister to Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Falco (Pivotal {GB}), who is now standing as a jumps stallion in Britain.