Precieuse wins French 1,000 Guineas Precieuse stayed on with purpose to foil British raider Sea Of Grace in a tight finish to the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Deauville. The William Haggas-trained Sea Of Grace (formerly with John Oxx) looked a possible winner of the mile heat, which is the French equivalent of the 1000 Guineas, with a furlong to run but Precieuse was delivered with a perfectly-timed charge by Olivier Peslier. Charm Appeal and Amaani set the early gallop, with Christophe Soumillon on Sea Of Grace taking an outside line on the right of the pack down the middle of the track, while Precieuse was settled in behind by Peslier. As the early leaders dropped back, Sea Of Grace and Precieuse both lined up their challenges on opposite sides of runners, eventually coming together in the shadow of the post, with Peslier's mount finding extra and pulling clear at the line. Heuristique kept on for third. Winning trainer Fabrice Chappet said: "That was my first Group One so I'm very happy. "We will now think about the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. That looks an obvious race. There is also the option of coming back here (Prix Rothschild)." Haggas said of Sea Of Grace: "She has run a very good race. We've eradicated that one from Newmarket (fifth in Nell Gwyn) - she was too fresh - and she has come forward like we knew she would. "It was too firm at Newmarket and that (softer ground) was quite important for her. "We will now go to Ireland (Irish 1,000 Guineas)."
