Prix Royal-Oak
| Group 1 race | |
| Location | Longchamp Racecourse Paris, France |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1861 |
| Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Website | france-galop.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 3,100 metres (1m 7½f) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Three-years-old and up |
| Weight | 55 kg (3yo); 59 kg (4yo+) Allowances 1½ kg for fillies and mares |
| Purse | €350,000 (2015) 1st: €199,990 |
| 2014 | ||
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| Tac De Boistron | High Jinx | Narrow Hill |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | ||
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| Tac De Boistron | Going Somewhere | Missunited |
| 2012 | ||
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| Les Beaufs | Silver Valny | Rollex Borget |
| 2011 | ||
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| Be Fabulous | Miss Lago | Shankardeh |
| 2010-2001 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
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| Gentoo | Celtic Celeb | Opinion Poll |
| 2009 | ||
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| Ask | Schiaparelli | Manighar |
| 2008 | ||
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| Yeats | Allegretto | Veracity |
| 2007 | ||
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| Allegretto | Macleya | Ponte Tresa |
| 2006 | ||
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| Montare | Bellamy Cay | Sergeant Cecil |
| 2005 | ||
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| Alcazar | Reefscape | Shamdala |
| 2004 | ||
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| Westerner | Behkara | Alcazar |
| 2003 | ||
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| Westerner | Alcazar | Behkara |
| 2002 | ||
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| Mr Dinos | Sulk | Clety |
| 2001 | ||
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| Vinnie Roe | Generic | Germinis |
| 2000-1991 | ||
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| 2000 | ||
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| Amilynx | San Sebastian | Tajoun |
| 1999 | ||
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| Amilynx | Tajoun | Northerntown |
| 1998 | ||
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| Tiraaz | Erudite | Asolo |
| 1997 | ||
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| Ebadiyla | Snow Princess | Oscar Schindler |
| 1996 | ||
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| Red Roses Story | Moonax | Helen Of Spain |
| 1995 | ||
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| Sunshack | Shrewd Idea | Sunrise Song |
| 1994 | ||
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| Moonax | Always Earnest | Dalara |
| 1993 | ||
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| Raintrap | Mashaallah | Sonus |
| 1992 | ||
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| Assessor | Always Friendly | Sought Out |
| 1991 | ||
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| Turgeon | Shambo | Wajd |
| 1990-1988 | ||
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| 1990 | ||
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| Braashee | Indian Queen | Turgeon |
| 1989 | ||
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| Top Sunrise | Turgeon | Robertet |
| 1988 | ||
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| Star Lift | Floripedes | Vaguely Pleasant |
The Prix Royal-Oak is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 3,100 metres (about 1 mile and 7½ furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late October.
It is France's equivalent of the St. Leger Stakes, a famous race in England.
History
The event was established in 1861, and it was initially called the Grand Prix du Prince Impérial. It was originally restricted to three-year-olds, and was part of a series of races based on the English Classic system. Its original distance was 3,200 metres.
The race was renamed the Prix Royal-Oak and shortened to 3,000 metres in 1869. It was named after Royal Oak (foaled 1823), a key stallion in the establishment of thoroughbred breeding in France. Due to the Franco-Prussian War, the race was not run in 1870 and 1871.
The Prix Royal-Oak was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1914 to 1918. It was cancelled twice during World War II, in 1939 and 1940. It was staged at Le Tremblay in 1943 and 1944.
The event was extended to 3,100 metres in 1964. The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Prix Royal-Oak was classed at the highest level, Group 1. For a period it was held in mid-September. It was switched to late October in 1977.
The Prix Royal-Oak was opened to horses aged four or older in 1979. It was opened to geldings in 1986.
Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
- Amilynx – 1999, 2000
- Westerner – 2003, 2004
- Tac De Boistron - 2013, 2014
Leading jockey (6 wins):
- Freddy Head – Dhaudevi (1968), Bourbon (1971), Busiris (1974), Gold River (1980), Agent Double (1984), Top Sunrise (1989)
Leading trainer (7 wins):
- François Mathet – Vamour (1959), Match (1961), Relko (1963), Reliance (1965), Sassafras (1970), Henri le Balafre (1975), Exceller (1976)
- André Fabre – Star Lift (1988), Top Sunrise (1989), Raintrap (1993), Sunshack (1995), Amilynx (1999, 2000), Be Fabulous (2011)
Leading owner (6 wins):
- Frédéric de Lagrange – Palestro (1861), Fille de l'Air (1864), Gladiateur (1865), Nelusco (1868), Inval (1878), Zut (1879)
Winners since 1969
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Le Chouan | 3 | André Jézéquel | Freddie Palmer | Geoffroy de Waldner | 3:41.30 |
| 1970 | Sassafras [a] | 3 | Yves Saint-Martin | François Mathet | Arpad Plesch | 3:21.30 |
| 1971 | Bourbon | 3 | Freddy Head | Alec Head | Germaine Wertheimer | 3:32.50 |
| 1972 | Pleben | 3 | Marcel Depalmas | Geoffroy Watson | Baron de Redé | 3:30.60 |
| 1973 | Lady Berry | 3 | Marcel Depalmas | Geoffroy Watson | Guy de Rothschild | 3:26.10 |
| 1974 | Busiris | 3 | Freddy Head | Maurice Zilber | Nelson Bunker Hunt | 3:25.90 |
| 1975 | Henri le Balafre | 3 | Henri Samani | François Mathet | Claude Puerari | 3:29.00 |
| 1976 | Exceller | 3 | Gérard Dubroeucq | François Mathet | Nelson Bunker Hunt | 3:33.80 |
| 1977 | Rex Magna | 3 | Philippe Paquet | François Boutin | Elisabeth Couturié | 3:28.70 |
| 1978 | Brave Johnny | 3 | Henri Samani | Mick Bartholomew | Mireille Darc | 3:30.10 |
| 1979 | Niniski | 3 | Willie Carson | Dick Hern | Lady Beaverbrook | 3:39.90 |
| 1980 | Gold River | 3 | Freddy Head | Alec Head | Jacques Wertheimer | 3:39.50 |
| 1981 | Ardross | 5 | Lester Piggott | Henry Cecil | Charles St George | 3:37.70 |
| 1982 | Denel | 3 | Yves Saint-Martin | Bernard Sécly | Mrs Salomon Nathan | 3:44.20 |
| 1983 | Old Country | 4 | Pat Eddery | Luca Cumani | Mrs O. Abegg | 3:24.90 |
| 1984 | Agent Double | 3 | Freddy Head | Criquette Head | Jacques Wertheimer | 3:42.20 |
| 1985 | Mersey | 3 | Jean-Luc Kessas | Patrick Biancone | Daniel Wildenstein | 3:22.70 |
| 1986 | El Cuite | 3 | Steve Cauthen | Henry Cecil | Sheikh Mohammed | 3:29.60 |
| 1987 | Royal Gait | 4 | Alfred Gibert | John Fellows | Manuel Pereira-Arias | 3:34.60 |
| 1988 | Star Lift | 4 | Cash Asmussen | André Fabre | Daniel Wildenstein | 3:29.80 |
| 1989 | Top Sunrise | 4 | Freddy Head | André Fabre | Charles Schmidt | 3:22.00 |
| 1990 (dh) |
Braashee Indian Queen |
4 5 |
Michael Roberts Walter Swinburn |
Alec Stewart Lord Huntingdon |
Maktoum Al Maktoum Sir Gordon Brunton |
3:38.40 |
| 1991 | Turgeon | 5 | Tony Cruz | Jonathan Pease | George Strawbridge | 3:23.40 |
| 1992 | Assessor | 3 | Richard Quinn | Richard Hannon, Sr. | Bjorn Nielsen | 3:35.80 |
| 1993 | Raintrap | 3 | Pat Eddery | André Fabre | Khalid Abdullah | 3:45.80 |
| 1994 | Moonax | 3 | Pat Eddery | Barry Hills | Sheikh Mohammed | 3:28.90 |
| 1995 | Sunshack | 4 | Thierry Jarnet | André Fabre | Khalid Abdullah | 3:16.20 |
| 1996 | Red Roses Story | 4 | Vincent Vion | Corine Barande-Barbe | Corine Barande-Barbe | 3:38.40 |
| 1997 | Ebadiyla | 3 | Gérald Mossé | John Oxx | HH Aga Khan IV | 3:26.50 |
| 1998 | Tiraaz | 4 | Gérald Mossé | Alain de Royer-Dupré | HH Aga Khan IV | 3:58.40 |
| 1999 | Amilynx | 3 | Olivier Peslier | André Fabre | Jean-Luc Lagardère | 3:40.60 |
| 2000 | Amilynx | 4 | Olivier Peslier | André Fabre | Jean-Luc Lagardère | 3:33.40 |
| 2001 | Vinnie Roe | 3 | Pat Smullen | Dermot Weld | Sheridan / Balzarini | 3:37.80 |
| 2002 | Mr Dinos | 3 | Dominique Boeuf | Paul Cole | Constantine Shiacolas | 3:38.50 |
| 2003 | Westerner | 4 | Dominique Boeuf | Elie Lellouche | Ecurie Wildenstein | 3:31.20 |
| 2004 | Westerner | 5 | Stéphane Pasquier | Elie Lellouche | Ecurie Wildenstein | 3:28.90 |
| 2005 | Alcazar | 10 | Michael Fenton | Hughie Morrison | Repard / Melrose et al. | 3:27.30 |
| 2006 | Montare | 4 | Olivier Peslier | Jonathan Pease | George Strawbridge | 3:20.30 |
| 2007 | Allegretto | 4 | Ryan Moore | Sir Michael Stoute | Cheveley Park Stud | 3:15.50 |
| 2008 | Yeats | 7 | Johnny Murtagh | Aidan O'Brien | Magnier / Nagle | 3:19.30 |
| 2009 | Ask | 6 | Ryan Moore | Sir Michael Stoute | Patrick Fahey | 3:32.17 |
| 2010 | Gentoo | 6 | Christophe Lemaire | Alain Lyon | Serge Tripier-Mondancin | 3:36.00 |
| 2011 | Be Fabulous | 4 | Maxime Guyon | André Fabre | Godolphin | 3:21.47 |
| 2012 | Les Beaufs | 3 | Julien Guillochon | Valérie Seignoux | Stéphane Seignoux | 3:36.22 |
| 2013 | Tac de Boistron | 6 | Martin Harley | Marco Botti | Aust Thoroughbred Bldstck | 3:38.12 |
| 2014 | Tac de Boistron | 7 | Martin Harley | Marco Botti | Aust Thoroughbred Bldstck | 3:32.73 |
| 2015 | Vazirabad | 3 | Christophe Soumillon | Alain de Royer-Dupré | HH Aga Khan IV | 3:27.61 |
a Hallez finished first in 1970, but he was relegated to second place following a stewards' inquiry.
Earlier winners
- 1861: Palestro
- 1862: Souvenir
- 1863: La Toucques
- 1864: Fille de l'Air
- 1865: Gladiateur
- 1866: Etoile Filante
- 1867: Patricien
- 1868: Nelusco
- 1869: Clotho
- 1870–71: no race
- 1872: Barbillon
- 1873: Boiard
- 1874: Mignonette
- 1875: Perplexe
- 1876: Kilt
- 1877: Jongleur
- 1878: Inval
- 1879: Zut
- 1880: Beauminet
- 1881: Perplexite
- 1882: Clio
- 1883: Stockholm
- 1884: Archiduc
- 1885: Escarboucle
- 1886: Gamin
- 1887: Bavarde
- 1888: Galaor
- 1889: Pourtant
- 1890: Alicante
- 1891: Berenger
- 1892: Chene Royal
- 1893: Ramleh
- 1894: Gouvernail
- 1895: Bombon
- 1896: Champaubert
- 1897: Chambertin
- 1898: Le Roi Soleil
- 1899: Perth
- 1900: Ivoire
- 1901: Jacobite
- 1902: Fer
- 1903: Torquato Tasso
- 1904: Macdonald II
- 1905: Clyde
- 1906: Maintenon
- 1907: Anemone
- 1908: Medeah
- 1909: Aveu
- 1910: Reinhart
- 1911: Combourg
- 1912: Gorgorito
- 1913: Bruleur
- 1914–18: no race
- 1919: Stearine
- 1920: Embry
- 1921: Ksar
- 1922: Keror
- 1923: Filibert de Savoie
- 1924: Uganda
- 1925: Priori
- 1926: Biribi
- 1927: Fiterari
- 1928: Cacao
- 1929: Calandria
- 1930: Taicoun
- 1931: Deiri
- 1932: Laeken
- 1933: Jumbo
- 1934: Brantome
- 1935: Bokbul
- 1936: Fantastic
- 1937: Victrix
- 1938: Eclair au Chocolat
- 1939–40: no race
- 1941: Le Pacha
- 1942: Tifinar
- 1943: Verso II
- 1944: Samaritain
- 1945: Caracalla
- 1946: Souverain
- 1947: Tourment
- 1948: Spooney
- 1949: Ciel Etoile
- 1950: Pan
- 1951: Stymphale
- 1952: Feu du Diable
- 1953: Buisson d'Or
- 1954: Sica Boy
- 1955: Macip
- 1956: Arabian
- 1957: Scot
- 1958: Wallaby
- 1959: Vamour
- 1960: Puissant Chef
- 1961: Match
- 1962: Sicilian Prince
- 1963: Relko
- 1964: Barbieri
- 1965: Reliance
- 1966: Vasco de Gama
- 1967: Samos
- 1968: Dhaudevi
See also
- List of French flat horse races
- Recurring sporting events established in 1861 – this race is included under its original title, Grand Prix du Prince Impérial.
References
- France Galop / Racing Post:
- galop.courses-france.com:
- france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix Royal-Oak.
- galopp-sieger.de – Prix Royal-Oak.
- horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix Royal-Oak (2015).
- pedigreequery.com – Prix Royal-Oak – Longchamp.