The Prix Vicomtesse Vigier is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four 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 May.
| Group 2 race | |
| Location | Longchamp Racecourse Paris, France |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1859 |
| Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Website | france-galop.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 3,100 metres (1m 7½f)[1] |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Four-years-old and up[1] |
| Weight | 56 kg Allowances 1½ kg for fillies and mares Penalties 2 kg for Group 1 winners * 1 kg for Group 2 winners * * since January 1 last year[1] |
| Purse | €130,000 (2022) 1st: €74,100[1] |
| 2024 | ||
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| Sevenna's Knight | Shembala | Double Major |
| Previous years | ||
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| 2023 | ||
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| Sober | The Good Man | Big Call |
| 2022 | ||
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| Skazino | Joie De Soir | The Good Man |
| 2021 | ||
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| Skazino | Valia | The Grand Visir |
| 2020-2011 | ||
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| 2020 | ||
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| San Huberto | Call The Wind | Get Shirty |
| 2019 | ||
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| Called To The Bar | Way To Paris | Call The Wind |
| 2018 | ||
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| Vazirabad | Marmelo | Mille Et Mille |
| 2017 | ||
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| Vazirabad | Sirius | Travelling Man |
| 2016 | ||
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| Vazirabad | Fly With Me | Manatee |
| 2015 | ||
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| Bathyrhon | Glaring | Mille Et Mille |
| 2014 | ||
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| Fly With Me | Goldtara | Terrubi |
| 2013 | ||
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| Domeside | Les Beaufs | Last Train |
| 2012 | ||
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| Ivory Land | Usuelo | Prairie Star |
| 2011 | ||
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| Brigantin | Dunaden | Marinous |
| 2010–2001 | ||
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| 2010 | ||
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| Kite Wood | Kasbah Bliss | Blek |
| 2009 | ||
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| Americain | Pointilliste | Bannaby |
| 2008 | ||
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| Coastal Path | Orion Star | Ponte Tresa |
| 2007 | ||
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| Lord Du Sud | Ponte Tresa | Montare |
| 2006 | ||
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| Shamdala | Montare | Reefscape |
| 2005 | ||
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| Westerner | Allez Olive | Winged D'Argent |
| 2004 | ||
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| Forestier | Westerner | Clear Thinking |
| 2003 | ||
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| Cut Quartz | Morozov | Terrazzo |
| 2002 | ||
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| Wareed | Speedmaster | Crillon |
| 2001 | ||
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| Speedmaster | Polish Summer | Folie Danse |
| 2000–1998 | ||
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| 2000 | ||
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| Amilynx | Le Tintoret | Yavana's Pace |
| 1999 | ||
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| Kayf Tara | Tajoun | Katun |
| 1998 | ||
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| Tajoun | Lucky Dream | Windsor Castle |
History
editThe event was established in 1859 and named after the Viscountess Vigier. It was originally the second leg of a pair of races called the Prix Biennal. The first leg, for three-year-olds, was created a year earlier. The version for older horses was initially contested over 3,200 metres. It was cancelled because of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, and it was cut to 3,000 metres in 1897. It was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1915 to 1918.
Both legs of the Prix Biennal were given a new title, the Prix Jean Prat, in 1940. This was in memory of Jean Prat (1847–1940), a successful racehorse owner and breeder. The older horses' version was held at Maisons-Laffitte from 1943 to 1945, and on the first occasion it was contested over 3,100 metres. It returned to Longchamp in 1946, and its regular distance was extended to 3,100 metres in 1955.
The Prix Jean Prat for older horses was renamed the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier in 1985. This was in honour of Vicomtesse Vigier, Madeleine Double de Saint-Lambert (1869–1970), the niece of Jean Prat, who inherited her uncle's stable upon his death. The version for three-year-olds continued with the title Prix Jean Prat.
The Prix Vicomtesse Vigier used to be held several weeks before the Prix du Cadran, but that race was switched from May to October in 1991. The leading contenders often go on to compete in the latter event, and the last to win both in the same year was Vazirabad in 2017.
Records
editMost successful horse (3 wins):
- Vazirabad – 2016, 2017, 2018
Leading jockey (6 wins):
- Yves Saint-Martin – Cirio (1963), Danseur (1967), Zamazaan (1969), Paseo (1970), Recupere (1974), Buckskin (1977)
- Freddy Head – Hallez (1971), Midshipman (1978), Campero (1979), Gold River (1981), Starski (1982), Dadarissime (1993)
Leading trainer (7 wins):
- Alain de Royer-Dupré – Starski (1982) Tajoun (1998), Shamdala (2006), Ivory Land (2012), Vazirabad (2016, 2017, 2018)
- André Fabre - Magwal (1984), Amilynx (2000), Coastal Path (2008), Americain (2009), Brigantin (2011), Sober (2023), Sevenna's Knight (2024)
Leading owner (5 wins):
- Henri Delamarre – Pauvre Here (1861), Angus (1862), Clotaire (1872), Boiard (1874), Clio (1883)
- Marcel Boussac – Marsyas (1944, 1945), Arbar (1948), Marveil (1950), Scratch (1951)
- Aga Khan IV – Tajoun (1998), Shamdala (2006), Vazirabad (2016, 2017, 2018)
Winners since 1979
edit| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Campero | 6 | Freddy Head | Maurice Zilber | J. Moreno | 3:16.80 |
| 1980 | Hard to Sing | 4 | Georges Doleuze | Charlie Milbank | N. Lathom-Sharp | 3:24.90 |
| 1981 | Gold River | 4 | Freddy Head | Alec Head | Jacques Wertheimer | 3:39.90 |
| 1982 | Starski | 4 | Freddy Head | Alain de Royer-Dupré | Marquesa de Moratalla | 3:28.40 |
| 1983 | Kelbomec | 7 | Jean-Claude Desaint | J. C. Cunnington | Mrs Jacques Barker | 3:37.30 |
| 1984 | Magwal | 5 | Alfred Gibert | André Fabre | Mahmoud Fustok | 3:17.20 |
| 1985 | Balitou | 6 | Éric Legrix | Patrick Biancone | Daniel Wildenstein | 3:32.20 |
| 1986 | Air de Cour | 4 | Éric Legrix | Patrick Biancone | Daniel Wildenstein | 3:42.20 |
| 1987 | Tale Quale | 5 | Tony Cruz | Patrick Biancone | Daniel Wildenstein | 3:25.70 |
| 1988 | Royal Gait | 5 | Alfred Gibert | John Fellows | Manuel Pereira-Arias | 3:28.00 |
| 1989 | Rachmaninov | 4 | Cash Asmussen | Élie Lellouche | Jean-Claude Abecassis | 3:37.30 |
| 1990 | Turgeon | 4 | Tony Cruz | Jonathan Pease | George Strawbridge | 3:26.30 |
| 1991 | Turgeon | 5 | Cash Asmussen | Jonathan Pease | George Strawbridge | 3:20.00 |
| 1992 | Commendable | 4 | Pat Eddery | Henri-Alex Pantall | Khalid Abdullah | 3:23.80 |
| 1993 | Dadarissime | 4 | Freddy Head | Georges Bridgland | Sir James Goldsmith | 3:20.80 |
| 1994 | Molesnes | 4 | Olivier Peslier | Marcel Rolland | Michel Perret | 3:27.90 |
| 1995 | The Little Thief | 4 | Alain Junk | Eric Danel | George Ohrstrom | 3:29.70 |
| 1996 | Double Eclipse | 4 | Jason Weaver | Mark Johnston | Middleham Partnership | 3:28.20 |
| 1997 | Stretarez | 4 | Frédéric Sanchez | Dominique Sépulchre | Jean-Luc Lagardère | 3:28.80 |
| 1998 | Tajoun | 4 | Gérald Mossé | Alain de Royer-Dupré | HH Aga Khan IV | 3:18.50 |
| 1999 | Kayf Tara | 5 | Sylvain Guillot | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin | 3:22.90 |
| 2000 | Amilynx | 4 | Olivier Peslier | André Fabre | Jean-Luc Lagardère | 3:27.20 |
| 2001 | Speedmaster | 4 | Dominique Boeuf | François Doumen | Horst Rapp | 3:19.30 |
| 2002 | Wareed | 4 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin | 3:15.80 |
| 2003 | Cut Quartz | 6 | Thierry Jarnet | Richard Gibson | Antoinette Kavanagh | 3:32.70 |
| 2004 | Forestier | 4 | Christophe Lemaire | Eric Danel | Mrs René J. Wattinne | 3:29.90 |
| 2005 | Westerner | 6 | Olivier Peslier | Élie Lellouche | Ecurie Wildenstein | 3:15.80 |
| 2006 | Shamdala | 4 | Christophe Soumillon | Alain de Royer-Dupré | HH Aga Khan IV | 3:22.50 |
| 2007 | Lord du Sud | 6 | Christophe Lemaire | Jean-Claude Rouget | Béatrice Hermelin | 3:33.60 |
| 2008 | Coastal Path | 4 | Stéphane Pasquier | André Fabre | Khalid Abdullah | 3:18.60 |
| 2009 | Americain | 4 | Olivier Peslier | André Fabre | Wertheimer et Frère | 3:28.78 |
| 2010 | Kite Wood | 4 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin | 3:20.00 |
| 2011 | Brigantin | 4 | Pierre-Charles Boudot | André Fabre | Team Valor | 3:31.60 |
| 2012 | Ivory Land | 5 | Stéphane Pasquier | Alain de Royer-Dupré | Eduardo Fierro | 3:26.69 |
| 2013 | Domeside | 7 | Christophe Soumillon | Mauricio Delcher-Sanchez | Safsaf Canarias Srl | 3:27.01 |
| 2014 | Fly With Me | 4 | Maxime Guyon | Eric Libaud | Jean Luck | 3:32.22 |
| 2015 | Bathyrhon | 5 | Maxime Guyon | Pia Brandt | Avaz Ismoilov | 3:20.74 |
| 2016 | Vazirabad[a] | 4 | Christophe Soumillon | Alain de Royer-Dupré | Aga Khan IV | 3:35.96 |
| 2017 | Vazirabad[a] | 5 | Christophe Soumillon | Alain de Royer-Dupré | Aga Khan IV | 3:37.11 |
| 2018 | Vazirabad | 6 | Christophe Soumillon | Alain de Royer-Dupré | Aga Khan IV | 3:14.46 |
| 2019 | Called To The Bar | 5 | Theo Bachelot | Pia Brandt | Fair Salinia / Pia Brandt | 3:12.23 |
| 2020 | San Huberto[b] | 4 | Pierre-Charles Boudot | Fabrice Chappet | OTI Racing | 3:10.34 |
| 2021 | Skazino | 5 | Mickael Barzalona | Cedric Rossi | La Haras de la Gousserie | 3:27.19 |
| 2022 | Skazino | 6 | Mickael Barzalona | Richard Chotard | La Haras de la Gousserie | 3:22.99 |
| 2023 | Sober | 4 | Maxime Guyon | André Fabre | Wertheimer et Frère | 3:21.98 |
| 2024 | Sevenna's Knight | 4 | Mickael Barzalona | André Fabre | OTI Racing | 3:21.15 |
- ^ a b The race took place at Saint-Cloud in 2016 and Chantilly in 2017 while Longchamp was closed for redevelopment
- ^ The 2020 race was run at Chantilly in June due to the COVID-19 pandemic in France
Earlier winners
edit- 1859: Tippler
- 1860: Light
- 1861: Pauvre Here
- 1862: Angus
- 1863: Grande Puissance
- 1864: Guillaume le Taciturne
- 1865: Fille de l'Air
- 1866: Fumee
- 1867: Fleurette
- 1868: Nemea
- 1869: Mortemer
- 1870: Cerdagne
- 1871: no race
- 1872: Clotaire
- 1873: Revigny
- 1874: Boiard
- 1875: Bieville
- 1876: Solo
- 1877: Mondaine
- 1878: Jongleur
- 1879: Mourle
- 1880: Vignemale
- 1881: Beauminet / Le Destrier[a]
- 1882: Forum
- 1883: Clio
- 1884: Satory
- 1885: Archiduc
- 1886: Lapin
- 1887: Alger
- 1888: Brisolier
- 1889: Galaor
- 1890: Pourtant
- 1891: Alicante
- 1892: Gouverneur
- 1893: Perdican
- 1894: Lagrange
- 1895: Canigou
- 1896: Quelus
- 1897:
- 1898: Patriarche
- 1899: Riverain
- 1900: Germain
- 1901: Codoman
- 1902: La Camargo
- 1903:
- 1904: Nordenskjold
- 1905: Gouvernant
- 1906: Genial
- 1907: Querido
- 1908: Elysee
- 1909: Sauge Pourpree
- 1910: Oversight
- 1911: Sablonnet
- 1912: Joyeux
- 1913: Predicateur
- 1914: Nimbus
- 1915–18: no race
- 1919: Gave
- 1920: Juveigneur
- 1921: Odol
- 1922: Harpocrate
- 1923: Sens
- 1924: Massine
- 1925: Cadum
- 1926: Tomy
- 1927: Bois Josselyn
- 1928: Sachet
- 1929: Kantar
- 1930: Cabire
- 1931: Amfortas
- 1932: Dark Agnes
- 1933: Gris Perle
- 1934: Casterari
- 1935: Admiral Drake
- 1936: Quorn
- 1937: Fantastic
- 1938: Malkowicze
- 1939: Messines
- 1940: Birikil
- 1941: Maurepas
- 1942: Le Pampre
- 1943: Tornado
- 1944: Marsyas
- 1945: Marsyas
- 1946: Chanteur
- 1947: Souverain
- 1948: Arbar
- 1949: Espace Vital
- 1950: Marveil
- 1951: Scratch
- 1952: Mat de Cocagne
- 1953: Feu du Diable
- 1954: Savoyard
- 1955: Banassa
- 1956: Polar
- 1957: Oroso
- 1958: Vacarme
- 1959: Wallaby
- 1960: Bel Baraka
- 1961: Puissant Chef
- 1962: Taine
- 1963: Cirio
- 1964: Celadon
- 1965: White Label
- 1966: Alyscamps
- 1967: Danseur
- 1968: Pardallo
- 1969: Zamazaan
- 1970: Paseo
- 1971: Hallez
- 1972: Parnell
- 1973: Parnell
- 1974: Recupere
- 1975: Le Bavard
- 1976: Citoyen
- 1977: Buckskin
- 1978: Midshipman
- ^ The 1881 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners
See also
edit- List of French flat horse races
- Recurring sporting events established in 1859 – this race is included under its original title, Prix Biennal.
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Prix Vicomtesse Vigier". The French Black Type. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- galop.courses-france.com:
- france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix Vicomtesse Vigier.
- galopp-sieger.de – Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (ex Prix Jean Prat / Prix Biennal).
- ifhaonline.org – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (2019).
- pedigreequery.com – Prix Vicomtesse Vigier – Longchamp.