Classic one-three for Wootton Bassett as Henri Matisse exhibits quality in France

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Henri Matisse survived a stewards enquiry at Longchamp to lead home a 1-3 for Coolmore sire Wootton Bassett in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains with fellow Ballydoyle runner and juvenile Group 1 victor Camille Pissarro taking third.

The Andrew Balding-trained Jonquil was sandwiched between the Wootton Bassett colts in second under Oisin Murphy. Both Henri Matisse and Camille Pissarro are out of mares by the late Cheveley Park Stud stallion and brilliant broodmare sire Pivotal but despite that sprinting influence, trainer Aidan O'Brien indicated afterwards that the third will be stepped up in trip for his next assignment.

One of four individual juvenile top-level winners for his sire last season, Henri Matisse is just the second Classic victor sired by Wootton Bassett and the first since Almanzor triumphed in the Prix du Jockey Club.

Bred by the Immortal Verse Partnership, he is a half-brother to the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes and Prix Jean Prat winner Tenebrism, a daughter of Caravaggio. Henri Matisse is also a half-brother to Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes winner Statuette from the first crop of Justify.

They are three of the five winners from six runners foaled by Immortal Verse, triumphant at the highest level twice as a three-year-old. The Coronation Stakes and Prix Jacques le Marois winner is from the brilliant Kilfrush Stud family of Last Tycoon.

Speaking to Sky Sports Racing, the trainer said:  "We were delighted, he's a horse that doesn't like to be in front too long and obviously we were hoping for a nice, even pace. When the pace is strong and even that usually gives the best horse a chance, with a strong pace there shouldn't be any traffic for anybody but when you are riding out the back you are never sure you are going to get there."

"Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't but Ryan [Moore] gave him a brilliant ride."

Asked about potential targets for the colts, he continued: "I think he could be a miler, we think that he could be a Saint James's Palace horse but the lads will decide that. Christophe [Soumillon] thought his horse [Camille Pissarro] could be a French Derby horse so the lads will probably split them up and there is every chance that he will go to Royal Ascot for the St James's Palace."

Ryan Moore emphasised that speed was the bay colt's strongest attribute.

"They went a good gallop and it sorted the race out," he commented. "He travelled very well, he was always comfortable and he picked up well. It always felt like he was going to win. He is a horse with an awful lot of ability, he was good in America last year and he was good on his comeback. I think he is getting better and he will improve.

"He has a lot of speed, there is a chance he will get further but he is pacey and has a lot of gears."

Immortal Verse is out of Listed winner Side Of Paradise, a Sadler's Wells half-sister to the aforementioned top-class sprinter Last Tycoon. Side Of Paradise is also a half-sister to the Group winners Astronef and The Perfect Life.

Two of her half-sisters are the dams of Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroines while another – Zelda – is the matriarch of a dynasty that includes Group 1 winners, and full-siblings, Hydrangea, Hermosa and The United States.

There was a bit of family history being repeated in the Auguste Rodin Coolmore-sponsored Prix Saint-Alary.

Back in 2006, during the time when this event was a Group 1, it was landed by Silver Hawk mare Germance before she finished second to Confidential Lady in the Prix de Diane. 

The Edmund Loder-bred Germance is now with Haras D'Etreham, who bred the narrow 2025 scorer Gezora and owned her until a transfer to Francis Graffard and the colours of Peter Brant's White Birch Farm this year. 

Gezora is the youngest and most successful foal out of Germance, who also produced the stakes-placed Garance, and a 14th Group winner by former Etreham resident Almanzor, now permanently stationed at Cambridge Stud in New Zealand.

The start of a glittering afternoon had seen Zoustar filly Mgheera open her account for new connections in the Group 3 Prix de Saint-Georges.

A winner at up to Listed level when trained for European Bloodstock Management by Manon Scandella-Lacaille, she was knocked down for €250,000 at Arqana's breeding stock sale last December to agents Johnny McKeever and Will Johnson and now races for a partnership between Lord Lloyd Webber and Arthur Mitchell.

"Massive result," her new trainer Ed Walker told Sky Sports Racing.

"Simon Marsh [manager for Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webber's breeding operation] asked me to train her, he bought her in Arqana with Johnny McKeever. 

"She'd been training really really well and looked fantastic and with her form behind [Walker's Prix de l'Abbaye winner] Makarova last year I was excited to get my hands on her. A Stiff five at Ascot would be ideal for her, she's in the King Charles III,  and so we'll aim for all the five-furlong sprints and hopefully have a lot of fun."

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