Both Anodin and Intello will be aiming to right the family honour when they line up in Sunday’s Poule d’Essai des Poulains – the French 2000 Guineas – at Longchamp.
Anodin is a full-brother to Goldikova, who was beaten two lengths by the great Zarkava in the French 1000 Guineas in 2008 while Intello’s dam, Impressionnante, was promoted to second in a controversial finish to the 2006 fillies’ Classic.
Both colts are owned by the Wertheimer brothers and will be taking a swift step up the ladder.
The Andre Fabre-trained Intello won the Listed Feilden Stakes over nine furlongs (1800m) at Newmarket on his most recent outing while Freddie Head’s Anodin won a conditions race at Longchamp on his latest start.
Anodin has a favourable draw in eight but Intello will have to contend with 17, something Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager to the Wertheimers, admits is not ideal.
“As you can imagine, we would have preferred a lower draw for Intello but that’s the game and we have to deal with it,” Bureau said.
“I think he had a nice run in Newmarket but the thing with both horses is that they have not been running against the top, top horses and this will be a big step up for them.
“Intello is dropping back in trip but I think there’s enough speed in his pedigree as his dam was a miler and his granddam was a sprinter, so that shouldn’t really be a problem.
“Anodin is a full-brother to the big girl (Goldikova) and a half-brother to Galikova and he’s a nice horse.”
Goldikova may have missed out on Classic glory but she went on to win 14 times at the highest level, including three Breeders’ Cup Miles, and Bureau believes it would be hard to compare the siblings.
“I don’t think you can really compare him and Goldikova, only Freddie could do that. They both do their own thing and are very nice horses,” he said.
