The European classic season belatedly starts Monday in France with the French 2000 and French 1000 Guineas, one-mile races usually run around a right-handed turn at Longchamp but moved this year to the straight course at Deauville. The 2000 Guineas, called the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, and the 1000 Guineas, the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, already were delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic before a Covid-19 infection spike the third week in May closed down racing in several French regions, including the Paris area, where Longchamp is located, forcing the move to Deauville. The change in configuration, from a turning race to a straight mile, is meaningful, especially since the key preps for the two races were contested over a one-turn mile at Longchamp. The Summit wired the Prix de Fontainebleau, the May 11 prep for the 2000 Guineas, setting a slow pace over very soft ground before opening a daylight lead in upper stretch that none of his rivals could overcome. Finishing third was heavy favorite Victor Ludorum, who lost for the first time after going 3 for 3, including a season-ending victory in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. Victor Ludorum had won the Lagardere over very soft ground, closing with a flourish, but after racing three wide without cover in the Fontainebleau, also run over a course designated very soft, he failed to produce similar acceleration. Victor Ludorum got the jump on Ecrivain, who’d been fourth in the Lagardere after attempting to rally up the rail, but in the Fontainebleau it was Ecrivain making late ground on The Summit after encountering somewhat compromising traffic in upper stretch. Ecrivain flashed ample talent as a 2-year-old, and perhaps it’s he, more than Victor Ludorum, who has matured and improved into his 3-year-old season. :: French racing: Download free PPs As for The Summit, he seems unlikely to get the same sort of soft front-end trip as in the Fontainebleau. Others in the nine-horse field have led before, including Shinning Ocean, who went to the front and cruised to victory in a one-mile conditions race on the Fontainebleau undercard. Kenway, who had a busy 2-year-old campaign, finished fourth in the Fontainebleau but got a better trip slicing between horses than Ecrivain, who was forced wide after finding space to accelerate. Andre Fabre trains Victor Ludorum and also entered Arapaho, a Lope de Vega colt owned by Coolmore who steps up in class after winning three times from his first four starts. Arapaho has never been farther than seven furlongs, and while he has a win and a second from two Deauville starts, the overall quality of the competition he’s met is suspect. Fabre starts the favorite for the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, the classy and game Tropbeau, who won the Prix de la Grotte on May 11 at Longchamp in her 1000 Guineas prep. The move from Longchamp to Deauville could benefit Tropbeau, who probably doesn’t want to go much farther than one mile and scored two sharp victories over the Deauville straight course last year, albeit over sprint distances. The two fillies behind Tropbeau in the Prix de la Grotte, Dream and Do and Tickle Me Green, second by a half-length and third by three-quarters, respectively, return for the Guineas, but Tropbeau ought to handle them. Tickle Me Green, also trained by Fabre, got first run on Tropbeau on May 11 at Longchamp but still was outkicked. Dream and Do followed Tropbeau into the final stages and finished well, but Tropbeau, after being strongly urged to get to the lead, appeared to cross the wire comfortably superior to Dream and Do. Fabre said before the Prix de la Grotte that Tropbeau would benefit from the start, and if that’s the case she’ll be tough to beat Monday, but Simeen might have a chance at her. Simeen, an Aga Khan homebred trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, gets her first major test Monday after winning a pair of minor races at age 2 and a conditions race May 13 at Chantilly. In her race this year, Simeen rated kindly for jockey Christophe Soumillon at the rear of the field, ranged into contention without being asked when tipped wide for the stretch run, and cruised home well within herself in what appeared to be a useful prep. Simeen was taking plenty of antepost betting as of Saturday and, given her lack of group stakes experience, probably will be an underlay, but she possesses intriguing talent. The Poulains, post time 9:50 a.m. Eastern, is the first of the big races, followed immediately by the Pouliches. You can watch and wager on the Deaville card at DRFBets.com. * In Germany, Rubaiyat, who was German Horse of the Year in 2019 as a 2-year-old, will try to run his career mark to six wins from six starts in the German 2000 Guineas on Monday at Cologne. Rubaiyat, by Areion, dominated his opposition last year but only won his Guineas prep, on May 10 at Hoppegarten, by three-quarters of a length. Runner-up in that race was Zavaro, who is one of five entered against Rubaiyat in Monday’s contest.