Prix Royal-Oak

Prix Royal-Oak
(French St. Leger)
Group 1 race
LocationLongchamp Racecourse
Paris, France
Inaugurated1861
Race typeFlat / Thoroughbred
Websitefrance-galop.com
Race information
Distance3,100 metres (1m 7½f)
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed
QualificationThree-years-old and up
Weight55½ kg (3yo); 59 kg (4yo+)
Allowances
1½ kg for fillies and mares
Purse€350,000 (2021)
1st: €199,990
Prix Royal-Oak
2023
Blue, white seams, white sleeves, white cap Yellow, green cross-belts, chevrons on sleeves, stars on cap Light blue, dark blue hollow box, striped sleeves and cap
Double Major Skazino Tashkhan
Previous years
2022
Pink, black star and armlets, pink cap Black, white sleeves, red cap, black star Blue, white seams, white sleeves, white cap
Iresine Search For A Song Sober
2021
Bottle green, white cap, lime green star Yellow, green cross-belts, chevrons on sleeves, stars on cap White, brown chevron, orange cap
Scope Skazino Glycon
2020-2011
2020
Lime green, royal blue epaulets and cap emerald Green, Red epaulettes Blue, Red epaulettes and diamond, Blue sleeves, Blue and Red quartered cap
Subjectivist Valia Holdthasigreen
2019
Emerald green, maroon chevron, maroon cap White, emerald green hoop, white cap Blue, Red epaulettes and diamond, Blue sleeves, Blue and Red quartered cap
Technician Call The Wind Holdthasigreen
2018
Blue, Red epaulettes and diamond, Blue sleeves, Blue and Red quartered cap Blue, white stars, blue sleeves, blue cap, white diamond Blue, blue sleeves, blue cap
Holdthasigreen Called To The Bar Morgan Le Faye
2017
Green, pink epaulettes, white sleeves, pink cap Green, red epaulettes, green sleeves, green cap White, green diamond, green sleeves, white cap, green striped
Ice Breeze Vazirabad Holdthasigreen
2016
GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap Royal blue Green, red hoop and cap
Vazirabad Endless Time Siljan's Saga
2015
GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap Green, red hoop and cap Beige, black braces
Vazirabad Siljan's Saga Mille Et Mille
2014
Yellow, dark blue seams, yellow cap Royal blue, yellow striped sleeves, royal blue cap, yellow star Grey, maroon stars, grey cap, maroon star
Tac De Boistron High Jinx Narrow Hill
2013
Yellow, dark blue seams, yellow cap Yellow, red sash, black and white hooped sleeves, yellow cap Brown and yellow (quartered), yellow sleeves, brown cap, yellow spots
Tac De Boistron Going Somewhere Missunited
2012
Grey, pink disc, sleeves and cap White, red sash and cap Grey, green chevron, armlets and cap
Les Beaufs Silver Valny Rollex Borget
2011
Beige White, purple cap GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap
Be Fabulous Miss Lago Shankardeh
2010–2001
2010
Red, black sleeves Yellow, light blue hoop, armlets and cap Yellow, black epaulets
Gentoo Celtic Celeb Opinion Poll
2009
Royal Blue, Emerald Green sleeves, Red cap Royal blue GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap
Ask Schiaparelli Manighar
2008
Dark blue Red, white sash, royal blue cap Royal blue
Yeats Allegretto Veracity
2007
Red, white sash, royal blue cap Dark blue, pink hoop and armlets, pink star on cap Blue and white hoops, white sleeves, blue armlets, hooped cap
Allegretto Macleya Ponte Tresa
2006
White, emerald green hoop Green, pink epaulets, white sleeves, pink cap Black, large Yellow spots and sleeves, Yellow cap, Black spots
Montare Bellamy Cay Sergeant Cecil
2005
Green, yellow hoop and armlets, check cap Green, pink epaulets, white sleeves, pink cap GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap
Alcazar Reefscape Shamdala
2004
Royal Blue, Light Blue cap GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap Green, yellow hoop and armlets, check cap
Westerner Behkara Alcazar
2003
Royal Blue, Light Blue cap Green, yellow hoop and armlets, check cap GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap
Westerner Alcazar Behkara
2002
Yellow, mauve spots, yellow sleeves Cherry, cornflower blue sash and cap Orange, white hoops on body
Mr Dinos Sulk Clety
2001
Yellow, light blue stars and sleeves, yellow cap, light blue star Red, black epaulets and star on cap Yellow, red disc, red sleeves, yellow spots, red cap, yellow spots
Vinnie Roe Generic Germinis
2000–1991
2000
Grey, pink cap Royal blue, yellow hoops, emerald green and yellow hooped cap GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap
Amilynx San Sebastian Tajoun
1999
Grey, pink cap GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap Royal blue, white seams, sleeves and cap
Amilynx Tajoun Northerntown
1998
GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap Green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves Red, emerald green chevron, emerald green cap
Tiraaz Erudite Asolo
1997
GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap Pale Blue, White and Yellow check cap White, blue sash, red and blue quartered cap
Ebadiyla Snow Princess Oscar Schindler
1996
Dark blue, light blue chevrons on sleeves, light blue cap Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star Maroon, white sash, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star
Red Roses Story Moonax Helen Of Spain
1995
Green, pink epaulets, white sleeves, pink cap Red and white diamonds, red sleeves, white spots, white cap Light green, dark green sleeves and cap
Sunshack Shrewd Idea Sunrise Song
1994
Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star Violet, red hoop and armlets GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap
Moonax Always Earnest Dalara
1993
Green, pink epaulets, white sleeves, pink cap Yellow, black epaulets Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star
Raintrap Mashaallah Sonus
1992
Black, yellow cap Dark green Pale Blue, White and Yellow check cap
Assessor Always Friendly Sought Out
1991
White, Emerald green Hoop, White Sleeves, White Cap Brown and orange diamonds, brown sleeves and cap Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star
Turgeon Shambo Wajd
1990–1988
1990
Royal blue, white chevron, light blue cap Orange, maroon hoop and armlets, black and orange quartered cap White, Emerald green Hoop, White Sleeves, White Cap
Braashee Indian Queen Turgeon
1989
Yellow, blue hoop and armlets, hooped cap White, Emerald green Hoop, White Sleeves, White Cap Royal Blue, Light Blue cap
Top Sunrise Turgeon Robertet
1988
Royal Blue, Light Blue cap Scarlet, white sash, black and white hooped cap Black, light blue cross-belts and cap
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.

Formerly France's equivalent of the St Leger Stakes in England, the Prix Royal-Oak was opened to horses aged four or older in 1979 and to geldings in 1986. Since then the race has dropped significantly in prestige.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

  • Amilynx – 1999, 2000
  • Westerner – 2003, 2004
  • Tac De Boistron – 2013, 2014
  • Vazirabad – 2015, 2016
  • Double Major - 2023, 2024

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 Aga Khan IV 3:26.50
1998 Tiraaz 4 Gérald Mossé Alain de Royer-Dupré 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 Élie Lellouche Ecurie Wildenstein 3:31.20
2004 Westerner 5 Stéphane Pasquier Élie Lellouche Ecurie Wildenstein 3:28.90
2005 Alcazar 10 Micky 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[b] 3 Christophe Soumillon Alain de Royer-Dupré Aga Khan IV 3:27.61
2016 Vazirabad[b] 4 Christophe Soumillon Alain de Royer-Dupré Aga Khan IV 3:29.23
2017 Ice Breeze[b] 3 Vincent Cheminaud Pascal Bary Khalid Abdullah 3:25.40
2018 Holdthasigreen[c] 6 Tony Piccone Bruno Audoin Jean Gilbert 3:18.17
2019 Technician 3 Pierre-Charles Boudot Martyn Meade Team Valor 1 3:40.13
2020 Subjectivist 3 Joe Fanning Mark Johnston Dr Jim Walker 3:38.68
2021 Scope 3 Rob Hornby Ralph Beckett J H Richmond-Watson 3:27.35
2022 Iresine 5 Marie Velon Jean-Philippe Gauvin Bertrand Milliere 3:31.34
2023 Double Major 3 Maxime Guyon Christophe Ferland Wertheimer et Frère 3:35.89
2024 Double Major[d] 4 Maxime Guyon Christophe Ferland Wertheimer et Frère 3:33.16
  1. ^ Hallez finished first in 1970, but he was relegated to second place following a stewards' inquiry
  2. ^ a b c The 2015, 2016 and 2017 runnings took place at Saint-Cloud while Longchamp was closed for redevelopment
  3. ^ The 2018 running took place at Chantilly to allow track maintenance to take place at Longchamp[1]
  4. ^ The 2024 runnings took place at Saint-Cloud

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: Brantôme
  • 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

References

  1. ^ Burton, Scott (12 October 2018). "Longchamp loses final pair of Group 1s as ground maintenance takes priority". Racing Post.