Lucayan gives Rohaut a reason to smile again

Dubai: Two years after being denied Classic glory, trainer Francois Rohaut gained compensation when Lucayan ran out a thrilling winner of the Poule D'essai Des Pouliches (French 2000 Guineas) at Longchamp racecourse in France.

On this same afternoon in 2010 Rohaut's filly Liliside beat Special Duty by a head in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) but had the race taken away for causing ‘interference'. She was demoted to sixth while Criquette Head-Maarek's Special Duty was handed the title.

The stewards were once in action on Sunday and called for an inquiry into the running of the race, but after several agonising minutes announced the result would remain unchanged.

With former Arc winning jockey Stephane Pasquier in the saddle Lucayan had to see off a minefield of challenges in the final two furlongs before bursting through the middle to win from Veneto, the pacemaker for red-hot favourite Dabblers.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Furner's Green flew from the back of the field to grab third place but broke his foreleg after crossing the line and catapulting jockey Joseph O'Brien out of the saddle. He was subsequently humanely euthanised.

Amaron was fourth, British hope Gregorian fifth and Dabirism sixth

RESULTS

At Longchamp, France

Poule D'Essai Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) (Group 1) 3yo fillies (Euro 450,000) 7f 209y: 1. Beauty Parlour 8/13 Fav (E Lellouche) C Soumillon; 2. Up 14/1 (A O'Brien) J O'Brien; 3. Topeka 20/1 (R Collet) I Mendizabal; 4. Fire Lily 16/1 (D Wachman) W Lordan.

Distances: 1Length, 1/2L, Neck. Time: 1:37:15secs.

Poule D'essai Des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas (Group 1) 3yo only (Euro 450,000) 7f 209y: 1. Lucayan 20/1 (F Rohaut) S Pasquier; 2. Veneto 40/1 (B Dee) T Thuilliez; 3. Furner's Green 13/2 (A O'Brien) J O'Brien