The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, the French 1000 Guineas, was first run at Longchamp in 1883 over 1600 metres when won by Stockholm, owned by M A Staub, trained by Thomas Cunnington and ridden by Wycherley. However, between 1840 and 1882 the Poule d'Essai race was held, although it was open to any 3-year-old, and it was only in 1883 that two versions were staged, the Pouliches for fillies and the Poulains for colts. During the First World War the race was abandoned between 1915 and 1918, although two makeshift versions were held at Chantilly in 1917 and were called the Criterium d'Essai des Pouliches for the fillies. During the Second World War the 1940 race was not officially staged, but a substitute race took place at Auteuil when won by Djebel. With the continuation of the War, the races in 1942 and 1943 were staged at Le Tremblay, and then moved to Maisons-Laffitte in 1944 and 1945. The race is seen as a good springboard to success in the Oaks later in the year and, to date, 28 fillies have won both the Pouliches and the Oaks, the most recent being Blue Rose Cen in 2023.