Godolphin will mount a three-pronged assault in the Group One Poule d'Essai des Poulians, the French 2,000 Guineas, over a mile at Longchamp today.
Frankie Dettori will ride Poet's Voice, with Ahmed Ajtebi aboard Buzzword and Mickael Barzalona on Forum Magnum. Poet's Voice makes his seasonal return, having ended his juvenile campaign with a creditable fourth in the Group One Shadwell Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket in October.
The Saeed bin Suroor-trained son of Dubawi recorded an impressive all-the-way success in the seven-furlong Group Two DFS Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in September, and was a close third in the Group Three Acomb Stakes at York in August after running away with a novice race at Newmarket. "I think that a mile is the right trip for Poet's Voice," said bin Suroor. "He is in good form and I have been pleased with his preparation for the race."
Buzzword makes his second successive appearance in a Classic after finish unplaced in the Group One 2,000 Guineas over a mile at Newmarket earlier this month. He performed with great credit in some of the leading juvenile contests at the end of last season, including a fifth place in the mile-long Grade Two Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita in November, and the Group One Jumeirah Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket in October.
Pivotal, a colt trained by Mahmood al Zarooni, makes his third appearance at Longchamp. He placed third in the seven-furlong Group One Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in October and won the Group Three Prix la Rochette over the same distance in September. "Buzzword is well at the moment and I think that he will make the frame at Longchamp," said al Zarooni. "He has improved since he ran at Newmarket and his last piece of work went very well."
Forum Magnum, who runs in the beige silks of Godolphin France and is trained by Andre Fabre, steps up in class after finishing a close fifth on his seasonal return in a six-furlong listed contest at Chantilly last month. He ended his 2009 season in a similar race, finishing down the field in the Group Three Prix Eclipse in October. He was runner-up in an extended six-furlong listed race at Maisons-Laffitte at the end of September and recorded a comfortable three-length victory over a furlong shorter at the same course in June.
"He showed a high level of form last season and I am hopeful that he can run well [today], although the Poule d'Essai des Poulains is always a very tough race to win." The Godolphin colts face 13 others in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, including 2,000 Guineas runner-up Siyouni, who won the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere last year, and Zazou and Rajsaman, the Group Three winners. Meanwhile, Campanologist makes his European return in the Group One Premio Presidente della Repubblica at Rome's Capannelle Racecourse today.
"Campanologist looks in good form at the moment and he has been working nicely," said bin Suroor. "He performed well out in Dubai earlier this year and I think that he goes to Italy with a good chance. Racing over 10 furlongs will suit him well and he deserves to continue in Group One company."
* Godolphin.com
