Aidan O'Brien consoles son Joseph after the Poule d'Essai des Poulains
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)Furner's Green dies after dramatic Poulains finish
Report: France, Sunday
Longchamp: Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Group 1) 1m, turf, 3yo
TRAGEDY struck in an eventful finish to the Poule d'Essai des Poulains after Furner's Green collapsed and died after crossing the line in third in a bunch finish to the French 2,000 Guineas.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt suffered an injury after flying from way back in the field to finish two short necks behind shock winner Lucayan and Veneto.
Both Furner's Green and favourite Dabirsim were blighted by troublesome passages in an incident-packed dash down the home straight. The local stewards deliberated for a long time before allowing the result to stand.
Joseph O'Brien was catapulted to the ground after Furner's Green broke his off fore leg. He walked away unharmed.
Dabirsim raced keenly early on under Christophe Soumillon and was short of room being squeezed out over two furlongs out.
Soumillon gathered his mount to challenge again but the colt had little left as he again found himself short of room with his pacemaker Veneto just holding on to second. Lucayan nicked the race for Francois Rohaut and Stephane Pasquier.
Rohaut said: "I thought he would win from some way out. He's never ceased to improve and I still think there's a margin to get better. We might well have a look at the St James's Palace rather than the Jockey Club."
Christophe Ferland, trainer of Dabirsim said: "He was unlucky, he got chopped off and stopped in his run and that affected his action. He maybe didn't quite get home."
The John Gosden-trained Gregorian finished best of the three British runners in fifth, beaten less than a length having won a handicap off 88 at Newbury last time.
Guineas fifth Coupe De Ville was unable to improve on that effort back in seventh, while Telwaar finished eleventh of the 12 runners.
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