Prix de la Grotte
The Prix de la Grotte is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at Longchamp in April.
Group 3 race | |
Location | Longchamp Racecourse Paris, France |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1889 |
Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
Website | france-galop.com |
Race information | |
Distance | 1,600 metres (1 mile)[1] |
Surface | Turf |
Track | Right-handed |
Qualification | Three-year-old fillies[1] |
Weight | 57 kg[1] |
Purse | €80,000 (2020) 1st: €40,000[1] |
History
The event was established in 1889, and it was originally open to colts and fillies aged three or older.[2] Its format varied during the early part of its history.
The modern version of the Prix de la Grotte was introduced in 1952. From this point it was restricted to three-year-old fillies, and was initially contested over 1,600 metres. It was designed to serve as a trial for the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.
The race's distance was modified several times during the 1960s. It was run over 1,400 metres (1965), 1,300 metres (1966) and 1,500 metres (1967) before reverting to 1,600 metres in 1968.
Several winners of the modern Prix de la Grotte have achieved victory in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. The first was Apollonia in 1956, and the most recent was Beauty Parlour in 2012. The most recent Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner to have taken part in the Prix de la Grotte was Dream And Do, the runner-up in 2020.
Records
Leading jockey since 1952 (7 wins):
- Yves Saint-Martin – La Sega (1962), Felicia (1963), Mirna (1964), Tonnera (1966), Pola Bella (1968), Koblenza (1969), Captive Island (1985)
Leading trainer since 1952 (8 wins):
- André Fabre - Houseproud (1990), Baya (1993), Flagbird (1994), Grey Lilas (2004), Anna Silai (2010), Golden Lilac (2011), Mexican Gold (2015), Tropbeau (2020)
Leading owner since 1952 (5 wins):
- Nelson Bunker Hunt – Gazala (1967), Pampered Miss (1970), Dahlia (1973), Nobiliary (1975), Hartebeest (1977)
Winners since 1980
Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1980 | Aryenne | Maurice Philipperon | John Fellows | D. G. Volkert | 1:39.70 |
1981 | Tropicaro | Alain Lequeux | Maurice Zilber | Benjamin Coates | |
1982 | River Lady | Lester Piggott | François Boutin | Robert Sangster | |
1983 | Mysterieuse Etoile | Alfred Gibert | Mitri Saliba | Mahmoud Fustok | |
1984 | Treizieme | Lester Piggott | Maurice Zilber | Thomas Tatham | |
1985 | Captive Island [lower-alpha 1] | Yves Saint-Martin | Robert Collet | Robert Sangster | |
1986 | Northern Premier | Cash Asmussen | Georges Mikhalidès | Mahmoud Fustok | |
1987 | Sakura Reiko | Tony Cruz | Patrick Biancone | Enshoku Zen | 1:39.60 |
1988 | Silver Lane | Cash Asmussen | Maurice Zilber | Mahmoud Fustok | 1:37.90 |
1989 | Keniant | Gary W. Moore | Patrick Biancone | Daniel Wildenstein | 1:44.80 |
1990 | Houseproud | Pat Eddery | André Fabre | Khalid Abdullah | 1:47.30 |
1991 | Danseuse du Soir | Dominique Boeuf | Elie Lellouche | Daniel Wildenstein | 1:46.20 |
1992 | Absurde | Freddy Head | François Boutin | Chryss Goulandris | 1:41.90 |
1993 | Baya | Thierry Jarnet | André Fabre | Sheikh Mohammed | 1:45.10 |
1994 | Flagbird | Thierry Jarnet | André Fabre | Sheikh Mohammed | 1:38.00 |
1995 | Matiara | Freddy Head | Criquette Head | Ecurie Aland | 1:48.40 |
1996 | Shake The Yoke | Dominique Boeuf | Elie Lellouche | Serge Brunswick | 1:36.70 |
1997 | Always Loyal | Freddy Head | Criquette Head | Maktoum Al Maktoum | 1:41.30 |
1998 | Zalaiyka | Gérald Mossé | Alain de Royer-Dupré | HH Aga Khan IV | 1:50.90 |
1999 | Venize | Olivier Peslier | Robert Collet | Arne Larsson | 1:47.20 |
2000 | Lady of Chad | Gérald Mossé | Richard Gibson | John Martin | 1:51.50 |
2001 | Quarter Note | Yutaka Take | Henri-Alex Pantall | Sheikh Mohammed | 1:50.30 |
2002 | Sophisticat | Jamie Spencer | Aidan O'Brien | Magnier / Tabor | 1:40.40 |
2003 | Maiden Tower | Christophe Lemaire | Henri-Alex Pantall | Sheikh Mohammed | 1:48.80 |
2004 | Grey Lilas | Gary Stevens | André Fabre | Gestüt Ammerland | 1:38.40 |
2005 | Divine Proportions | Christophe Lemaire | Pascal Bary | Niarchos Family | 1:42.10 |
2006 | Daltaya | Christophe Soumillon | Alain de Royer-Dupré | HH Aga Khan IV | 1:38.30 |
2007 | Darjina | Christophe Soumillon | Alain de Royer-Dupré | Zahra Aga Khan | 1:38.40 |
2008 | Zarkava | Christophe Soumillon | Alain de Royer-Dupré | HH Aga Khan IV | 1:44.70 |
2009 | Tamazirte | Christophe Lemaire | Jean-Claude Rouget | Vallée Martigny / Rabineau | 1:42.78 |
2010 | Anna Salai | Maxime Guyon | André Fabre | Godolphin | 1:38.33 |
2011 | Golden Lilac | Maxime Guyon | André Fabre | Gestüt Ammerland | 1:43.62 |
2012 | Beauty Parlour | Christophe Soumillon | Elie Lellouche | Ecurie Wildenstein | 1:37.82 |
2013 | Kenhope | Thierry Jarnet | Henri-Alex Pantall | Guy Pariente | 1:50.73 |
2014 | Lesstalk In Paris | Christophe Soumillon | Jean-Claude Rouget | SARL | 1:50.64 |
2015 | Mexican Gold | Vincent Cheminaud | André Fabre | Khalid Abdullah | 1:37.98 |
2016 | Qemah[lower-alpha 2] | Gregory Benoist | Jean-Claude Rouget | Al Shaqab Racing | 1:38.14 |
2017 | Senga[lower-alpha 2] | Stéphane Pasquier | Pascal Bary | Flaxman Stables Ireland | 1:40.30 |
2018 | Musis Amica | Mickael Barzalona | André Fabre | Godolphin | 1:46.85 |
2019 | Castle Lady | Mickael Barzalona | Henri-Alex Pantall | Godolphin | 1:38.39 |
2020 | Tropbeau | Mickael Barzalona | André Fabre | Lady Bamford | 1:40.78 |
- New Bruce and Silvermine finished first and second in 1985, but the race was awarded to the third-placed horse after a stewards' inquiry
- The 2016 and 2017 races took place at Chantilly while Longchamp was closed for redevelopment
Earlier winners
- 1952: Devinette
- 1954: Baghicheh
- 1955: Myriade
- 1956: Apollonia
- 1957: Epine Doree
- 1958: Reluisante
- 1959: Fiorenza
- 1960: Sly Pola
- 1961: Mopsy
- 1962: La Sega
- 1963: Felicia
- 1964: Mirna
- 1965: Clear River
- 1966: Tonnera
- 1967: Gazala
- 1968: Pola Bella
- 1969: Koblenza
- 1970: Pampered Miss
- 1971: Bold Fascinator
- 1972: If
- 1973: Dahlia
- 1974: Paddy's Princess
- 1975: Nobiliary
- 1976: Riverqueen
- 1977: Hartebeest
- 1978: Tayyara
- 1979: Nonoalca
See also
References
- "Prix de la Grotte". The French Black Type. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- "1889 Prix de la Grotte". Le Gaulois. 8 April 1889. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix de la Grotte.
- galop.courses-france.com – Prix de la Grotte – Palmarès depuis 1980.
- galopp-sieger.de – Prix de la Grotte.
- ifhaonline.org – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix de la Grotte (2019).
- pedigreequery.com – Prix de la Grotte – Longchamp.