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Teppa storms home to win French 1000 Guineas

Olivier Peslier and Teppal win the French 1000 Guineas
Image: Olivier Peslier and Teppal win the French 1000 Guineas

David Simcock's Teppal caused a huge shock in a dramatic renewal of the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) at ParisLongchamp.

There was a 30-minute delay to the Group One contest, after several jockeys voiced their concerns about the condition of the ground on the track which the earlier colts' version of the Classic had been run.

As a result, the fillies' version took place on the outer track, the one the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is run on later in the season.

Teppal went into the race unbeaten, but her two victories on the all-weather at Lingfield and Kempton left her with a deal to find on the figures.

There were plenty in with chances spread right across the track deep inside the final furlong, but Olivier Peslier - so often the man for the big occasion - drove his mount centrally to give Simcock a first Classic success.

Coeur De Beaute was second for Spanish trainer Mauricio Delcher Sanchez, with Wind Chimes finishing wide and fast to take third for Andre Fabre.

Simcock told Equidia Pro: "She got a lovely run round, she had a good draw and a good position.

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"The way the race panned out meant a couple of horses were going to go first. He pulled her out and she quickened up really well, so I'm delighted.

"She saw it out well which was a big worry coming here over a mile, but she got it well.

"I wasn't that confident because of the stamina issue and the rain last night, but the one thing she is is classy.

"If you look at her style and make-up, we were quite confident we could come (straight here) without a trial, she's very clean winded, and it worked out very well."

The disappointment was Freddy Head's Polydream, who never threatened, but Capla Temptress put up a big performance for Marco Botti and Andrea Atzeni in fourth.

Ryan Moore - whose mount US Navy Flag stumbled when in front in the colts' race - showed up well early on the Aidan O'Brien-trained Could It Be Love, but eventually faded into eighth place.

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