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Mangoustine wins the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches. Photo Zuzanna Lupa / Racingfotos.com

Mangoustine capped a brilliant weekend for Blue Diamond Stud mares with a brave victory in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp on Sunday.

The Dark Angel filly is a daughter of Zotilla, a Zamindar half-sister to Flotilla, who also won the Pouliches in 2013.

Her win followed hot on the heels of Nashwa, who was a highly impressive winner of the Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial at Newbury on Saturday.

Mangoustine was a high-class filly at two whose unbeaten three-start campaign culminated with a win in the Group 3 Prix Miesque. Subsequently sent to Mikel Delzangles, she wasn’t disgraced when third on her return in the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte, a run that set her up perfectly for Sunday’s Classic assault.

Always positioned well by Gerald Mosse, Mangoustine wore down the leader Cachet, winner of the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas, before bravely holding off the late challenge of Times Square.

Mangoustine is co-owned by Qatar Racing, Ecurie des Monceaux, Alexandre Giannotti and French and NBA basketball legend Tony Parker under his Infinity Nine Horses banner.

“It’s huge,” Parker told Jour de Galop. “Honestly, it’s huge! This is one of the most beautiful French races, and winning it after a year in racing is huge. I want to thank everyone.

“We’ll see how she recovers from this race, but it makes you want to dream. I felt the same emotion as during an NBA game! When I arrived in the world of racing, I met passionate people. With Mangoustine, we have created a whole team around her… Seeing the smile on people’s faces is truly magical.” 

It was a first success in the race since 1998 for veteran rider Mosse and a second victory in the Classic for Mikel Delzangles, who also handled Flotilla.

Zotilla pictured with her Too Darn Hot filly. Photo – Equuis Images

“It was obvious last year she was a good filly and she ran a good comeback in the Prix de la Grotte,” Delzangles told the Racing Post. “That did her the world of good and she had clearly taken a step forward so I was expecting a good run, if not maybe to win.

“I think the mile is her limit so we’ll aim for the Coronation Stakes.”

Gerald Mosse added: “She does it as a champion because I did not have the ideal course. But we didn’t panic. She let go of the bridle in the false straight, and she breathed well. At the start of the straight, I was doing much better than everyone without asking her for anything.

“It makes me happy to win for Mikel Delzangles and for Tony Parker, who is new to the industry. He deserves it, he puts in a lot of effort. I cannot tell you the satisfaction that everyone must feel in the stable and in the team. Today, when I asked her, she produced a real acceleration. Like the champions!”

Zotilla, by Zamindar, was purchased by Blue Diamond Stud on the same day of the 2019 Arqana December Sale as Manasarova, dam of the Pouliches seventh Sicilian Defense. The mare has a two-year-old colt by Zoustar, a filly foal by Too Darn Hot and is in foal to Dubawi.