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.

Prix de la Grotte
Group 3 race
LocationLongchamp Racecourse
Paris, France
Inaugurated1889
Race typeFlat / Thoroughbred
Websitefrance-galop.com
Race information
Distance1,600 metres (1 mile)[1]
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed
QualificationThree-year-old fillies[1]
Weight57 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 Élie 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 Élie 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 Élie 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
  1. New Bruce and Silvermine finished first and second in 1985, but the race was awarded to the third-placed horse after a stewards' inquiry
  2. 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
  1. "Prix de la Grotte". The French Black Type. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  2. "1889 Prix de la Grotte". Le Gaulois. 8 April 1889. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
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