O’Brien pair eye off group 1 success at ParisLongchamp
Master Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has strong prospects of plundering both the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas, 1600m) and the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas, 1600m) at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.
Puerto Rico was originally destined for Newmarket’s Group 1 2000 Guineas (1600m), but Gstaad (second to Bow Echo) became the Ballydoyle stable’s big-name contender there with Puerto Rico switched to the Poulains, which O’Brien has won six times before.
Not only does the son of Wootton Bassett have an edge on the ratings, but if Puerto Rico’s blitz of top-class victories late last season are anything to go by, we could see an exciting exhibition from the front-running colt who bossed his rivals from the start in Doncaster’s Group 2 Champagne Stakes (1405m), ParisLongchamp’s Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (1400m) and then up to this trip in Saint-Cloud’s Group 1 Criterium International (1600m).
Puerto Rico is paying 2.40 with horse racing betting sites, with Rayif (5.50) and Komorebi (6.50) the next best in the market.
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But those tactics are not a necessity according to O’Brien, who said: “He can make the running or drop in. He is very uncomplicated,” with the trainer adding: “Puerto Rico is scopey and strong and his mind has really gone the right way since last year.”
Andre Fabre first landed this French Classic in 1984, and the veteran Chantilly trainer could win it for the ninth time with Komorebi, who showed his 2026 mettle when just fending off Nighttime – another Poulains protagonist – in a notable trial for this – the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau (1600m) at ParisLongchamp last month.
By contrast, Francis-Henri Graffard – Chantilly’s latest training headliner – is yet to win the Poulains, but his colt Rayif has obvious potential – menacing from off the pace before quickening past rivals to easily win Deauville’s Group 3 Prix Francois Boutin (1400m) at just his second career start.
“What he did that day last August was really good,” Graffard said.
“This year he missed a trial at Longchamp because he was a little bit flat in his work, but he is not the type to need many races to be at his best. He has a fine change of gear and now he just needs to prove it in 2026.”
Meanwhile, O’Brien’s Diamond Necklace also has a big chance in the Pouliches, going there with an unblemished record in 2025, distinguishing herself over this course and distance with a power-packed surge to win the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac.
“She is very natural and takes no training,” O’Brien said of the EUR1.7 million yearling purchase.
“Christophe (Soumillon) rode her for her last two wins and was besotted by her.”
Among her rivals is Narissa, trained by Graffard, who has won the Pouliches for the last two years with Rouhiya (2024) and Zarigana (2025). She looked to have progressed since last season when finishing second in the Prix de la Grotte (1600m), an established Group 3 Pouliches trial over this course and distance.
