Evolutionist lifts Ace Stud after Grotte win boosts Classic hopes

Evolutionist turned a week of grief into a Classic reset for Ace Stud, landing the Prix de la Grotte at Longchamp by 2½ lengths and thrusting herself into the French 1,000 Guineas picture after Gewan’s fatal gallop accident at Kempton.

The 3-year-old filly by Night Of Thunder out of Model Guest stopped the clock in 1:38.19 over 1,600 metres, with Narissa second, Pierchic third and the 4/5 favourite Green Spirit only fourth. In a race that France Galop has staged since 1889 and used as a Poule d’Essai des Pouliches trial since 1952, the result carried real weight. Since that switch to trial status, 43 Grotte runners have gone on to finish in the first three of the French 1,000 Guineas, a stat that underlines why Evolutionist’s win matters far beyond a single afternoon at ParisLongchamp.

The timing gave the result its force. Just three days after Ace Stud suffered the loss of Gewan, last year’s Dewhurst Stakes winner and a leading Classic hope, Karl Burke’s filly provided a sharp counterpunch. Burke said he was “very, very happy,” added that the yard was not in top form, and felt Evolutionist would improve for the run. He also said a return to Longchamp for the French Guineas was the favourite option, with the Prix de Diane looking highly likely.

That changes the pecking order in Burke’s spring team. After Evolutionist finished third in both the Debutante Stakes and the Fillies’ Mile last season, Burke had already spoken of her as a filly for next season and pointed to the Irish Guineas and Prix de Diane as possible targets. Her Longchamp performance was not a mere black-type touch-up; it looked like the kind of authoritative trial win that can elevate a filly from promising to genuine top-level contender.

The form also receives a strong boost from Newmarket. Sporting Life noted that Evolutionist effectively franked the Fillies’ Mile because Precise, the filly who beat her there, has since won a Newmarket Group 1. For Ace Stud and Forz Europe Ltd, the win also restored momentum after a difficult transition. Reports in late December said the stable’s European horses, including Evolutionist, Gewan and Royal Fixation, would move under the Forz Europe name from 1 January 2026, and Paul Curran had spoken of top-class runners to look forward to this year.

With the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches set for Sunday, 10 May 2026, Evolutionist now has a clear next target and a real chance to turn Longchamp’s trial into a Classic campaign.