Aomori City hoping to continue golden spell in G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains

After dominating in the UK and USA last weekend, Godolphin’s three-year-old crop bids for more Classic success in France on Sunday, 11 May, with Aomori City lining up in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains at Longchamp.

The Oasis dream colt represents the same trainer/jockey combination of Charlie Appleby and William Buick that struck in both the 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas with Ruling Court and Desert Flower.

Aomori City’s form ties in with the 2,000 Guineas as he finished third behind Field Of Gold and Wimbledon Hawkeye, who were subsequently second and fifth behind Ruling Court, in the G3 Craven Stakes at Newmarket in mid-April.

A debut winner at Nottingham, Aomori City took high rank among Godolphin’s juveniles in 2024, readily winning Goodwood’s G2 Vintage Stakes and coming home fourth in the G1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes in Ireland.

He travelled out to California for his final juvenile outing in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, in which he powered home from the rear to finish a close third.

Charlie Appleby said: “We are delighted with how Aomori City has come out of the Craven and he has a sensible draw for Longchamp in stall eight. We have a little to find on the book with a few of the field, but he goes into this in great shape and with plenty of experience under his belt. I’m expecting a good run.”