The results from Longchamp’s day of Classic trials last Sunday were not those expected by the Aga Khan stable, but nevertheless left plenty of hope for the Poules d’Essai on 16th May.

Honours in the colts’ Gr.3 Prix de Fontainebleau did go to the famous green and red silks, but in the form of Rajsaman (Linamix) and not his stablemate, the favourite Siyouni (Pivotal). A quality individual in his own right, Listed winner Rajsaman had been intended to act as a pacemaker for Siyouni’s seasonal debut, but after taking an early lead Rajsaman was never caught.

After racing keenly, without cover on the outside, Siyouni was hidden as they raced into the false straight. He found racing room with a furlong to go and finished best of all, failing by half a length to catch Rajsaman. His performance left a positive impression on trainer Alain de Royer Dupré for this first attempt over a mile. “I am satisfied with his race as he has proved that he can stay 1600 metres.” Rajsaman and Siyouni will both line up in the Gr.1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains on 16th May when a strong pace set by the former will be a great advantage to the latter.

Last season’s Gr.1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Rosanara had to settle for third place in the Gr.3 Prix de la Grotte on the same card. The daughter of Sinndar quickened well at the entrance to the straight and lead into the final furlong but was caught with 100m to run by Gotlandia and eventual winner Anna Salai. Rosanara should come on from this outing as Alain De Royer Dupré commented, “she was lacking a little condition and needed this race.” The trainer confirmed that her objective remains the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches in three weeks time.

Another noteworthy performance from the weekend was that of Dibir (Shamardal) who was the impressive winner of the Class B Prix Via Milano over ten furlongs at Marseille-Borély on Saturday. The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained three-year-old had not been able to show his best on holding ground at Longchamp earlier in the month but now looks more than capable of stepping up in class.

Also last weekend, the Aga Khan Studs bloodlines were advertised by Akdarena, winner of the Listed EBF Salsabil Stakes at Navan. Owned and bred by Kirsten Rausing, Akdarena is out of the Aga Khan-bred Akdariya, a Group 2 runner-up who was sold to Lanwades Stud for €200,000 at Goffs November sale in 2005.