Poulains victory raises possibility of Guineas clean sweep

Modern Games posted an impressive success in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains in Paris on Sunday, setting up the tantalising prospect of a potential full set of English, French and Irish 2,000 Guineas for Godolphin this year.

Another homebred son of Dubawi, Coroebus, annexed the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket when edging out Native Trail, who himself looks to hold leading claims for this Saturday’s G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas.

Last season’s European Champion two-year-old returns to the Curragh having already scored at G1 level at the course in last season’s Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.

Aidan O’Brien won all three Classics in the same year in 2002, although Charlie Appleby would be the first trainer to complete the feat with three different colts should Native Trail be successful.

Modern Games looks set to bid for further Classic honours in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly next month, as he looks to emulate Shamardal in winning both races.

It was an exceptional week for Modern Ideals, the dam of Modern Games, with two more of her progeny winning in the UK.

Four-year-old Modern News enjoyed a dominant success in a Windsor Listed race on Monday, while juvenile filly Mawj set herself up for a date at Royal Ascot following a stylish introduction at Newmarket on Saturday.

Ottoman Fleet graduated to Listed honours on the same Newmarket card, with fillies Zapateo and In Secret also registering important Black Type wins on Saturday in Australia.

Paulele missed out by a short-head in the G1 Doomben 10,000 at Eagle Farm, with Real World also filling the runner-up spot behind unbeaten miler Baaeed in the G1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

Rain-softened ground counted against Yibir as he finished third in the G1 Man o’War Stakes. Conditions will hopefully be more to the US Champion’s liking at Saratoga later in the summer, when he is scheduled to tackle the G1 Sword Dancer Stakes.