Boldini seventh as Karakontie delivers Hot favourite Karakontie repelled the challenge of Prestige Vendome to run out a determined winner of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) at Longchamp. Karakontie won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at the Paris track for English-born, French-based trainer Jonathan Pease last October and having suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of Ectot on his return, he was a 6-4 favourite to take Classic glory. Having travelled well on the heels of the leaders, Stephane Pasquier's mount quickened up well and had enough in the tank in the final furlong to hold off Prestige Vendome and Thierry Thulliez. Pornichet just held on for third ahead of the best of the British contingent, John Gosden's Muwaary. The dual Newbury winner pulled fiercely for his head in the hands of Paul Hanagan in the early stages and did well to finish as close as he did. Marco Botti's Lat Hawill and the Andrew Balding-trained End Of Line were the back pair turning for home and neither made inroads, with Lat Hawill finishing tailed off. Aidan O'Brien's challenger Giovanni Bolidini was well placed at the top of the straight for Ryan Moore, but his finishing effort was disappointing.
