Prix Niel
| Location | Longchamp Racecourse Paris, France |
|---|---|
| Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Sponsor | Qatar |
| Website | france-galop.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2,400 metres (1½ miles) |
| Track | Turf, right-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds excluding geldings |
| Weight | 58 kg Allowances 1½ kg for fillies |
| Purse | €130,000 (2009) Distribution 1st: 57%, 2nd: 22% 3rd: 10.5%, 4th: 7% 5th: 3.5% |
The Prix Niel is a Group 2 flat horse race in France which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.
The race serves as a trial for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, which is held three weeks later at the same venue. The field usually includes some of the leading three-year-old candidates for the "Arc", and many of these will be racing for the first time since mid summer.
Contents |
[edit] History
The Prix Niel developed from a race called the Prix de Chantilly, which used to be contested over 3,000 metres by horses aged three or older. This was staged at Longchamp in early September. Its distance was cut to 2,400 metres in 1952, and to 2,300 metres in 1953.
The Prix de Chantilly was restricted to three-year-olds only in 1955, and at the same time its length was reverted to 2,400 metres. A separate race was introduced for older horses, which was initially titled the Prix Henri Foy (now the Prix Foy). Both of these events were specifically designed to act as trials for the most prestigious race in France, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
The distance of the Prix de Chantilly underwent several changes during the 1960s. It was cut to 2,000 metres in 1960, and then restored to 2,400 metres the following year. The race began a brief spell at Chantilly in 1964, and it returned to Longchamp two years later with a reduced length of 2,100 metres. It was extended to 2,200 metres in 1968.
The race was given its present title, the Prix Niel, in 1972. This was in memory of Gaston Niel (1880–1970), a long-serving member of the Société d'Encouragement, a former governing body of racing in France. Niel became the president of this organisation upon the death of Henri Foy in 1954.
The present distance of the Prix Niel, 2,400 metres, was set in 1979. The event was promoted to Group 2 status in 1987 – it had been previously classed at Group 3 level since the early 1970s.
Twelve winners of the race have gone on to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the same year. The first of these was Sica Boy in 1954, and the most recent was Rail Link in 2006.
[edit] Records
Leading jockey since 1952 (4 wins):
- Yves Saint-Martin – Nelcius (1966), Akarad (1981), Sagace (1983), Mouktar (1985)
- Freddy Head – Taj Dewan (1967), Mississipian (1974), Gay Mecene (1978), Cariellor (1984)
Leading trainer since 1952 (10 wins):
- André Fabre – Cariellor (1984), Trempolino (1987), Subotica (1991), Carnegie (1994), Housamix (1995), Sagamix (1998), Valixir (2004), Hurricane Run (2005), Rail Link (2006), Cavalryman (2009)
Leading owner since 1952 (5 wins):
- HH Aga Khan IV – Akarad (1981), Mouktar (1985), Sinndar (2000), Dalakhani (2003), Behkabad (2010)
[edit] Winners since 1979
[edit] Earlier winners
- 1970 - Stintino
- 1971 - Arlequino
- 1972 - Hard to Beat
- 1973 - Dahlia
- 1974 - Mississipian
- 1975 - Anne's Pretender
- 1976 - Youth
- 1977 - Crystal Palace
- 1978 - Gay Mecene
[edit] References
- france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix Niel.
- horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix Niel (2009).
- pedigreequery.com – Prix Niel – Longchamp.
