Prix Robert Papin encyclopedia topics

The Prix Robert Papin is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run over a distance of 1,100 metres (approximately 5½ furlongs) at Maisons-Laffitte Racecourse, and it takes place annually, presently in July.

It was first run in 1892 and was originally titled the Omnium de Deux Ans. From its launch until 1906 it was run on the first Sunday in August. During this period it usually attracted a large field because two-year-olds could not be raced in France before August 1. From 1907 this age group could race earlier in the year and consequently the number of runners here reduced. With prize money of 50,000 francs in 1911, the Omnium de Deux Ans was the richest juvenile race in France until 1914, exceeding both the Prix Morny and the Grand Critérium. Due to World War I it was not run from 1915 to 1918.

In 1928 the race was renamed in memory of Robert Papin (1848–1926), a founding member and later the president of the Société Sportive d'Encouragement. Using the name Robert de Lizy, he was also a writer for horse racing magazines and a racehorse owner.

During World War II the Prix Robert Papin was switched from its regular venue on two occasions. In 1940 it was contested at Auteuil in late October with a distance of 1,400 metres. The 1944 race was run at Longchamp over 1,000 metres. The only subsequent departure from Maisons-Laffitte was in 1977, when it was held at Evry.

For much of its history the race has been run over 1,100 metres. There have also been several intermittent periods over 1,200 metres (1903–06, 1929–39, 1941 and 1946–62).

When the present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, the Prix Robert Papin was classed at the highest level, Group 1. The race maintained this status until it was relegated to Group 2 level in 1988.

Records

Leading jockey (7 wins):

Roger Poincelet – Chesterfield (1946), Coronation (1948), Emperor (1949), Fiere (1955), Neptune (1957), Sly Pola (1959), High Bulk (1960)

Leading trainer (9 wins):

Charles Semblat – Ardan (1943), Nirgal (1945), Coronation (1948), Emperor (1949), Pharsale (1950), Auriban (1951), Pharel (1952), Cordova (1953), Fiere (1955)

Leading owner (8 wins):

Marcel Boussac – Ardan (1943), Nirgal (1945), Coronation (1948), Emperor (1949), Pharsale (1950), Auriban (1951), Pharel (1952), Cordova (1953)

Winners since 1980

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
1980	Irish Playboy	Alain Lequeux	Olivier Douieb	Sir G. White	1:05.4
1981	Maelstrom Lake	Georges Doleuze	E. Bartholomew	Jacques Feuillard	1:05.6
1982	Ma Biche	Freddy Head	Criquette Head	Ghislaine Head	1:05.3
1983	Masarika	Yves Saint-Martin	Alain de Royer-Dupré	HH Aga Khan IV	1:05.3
1984	Seven Springs	Gary W. Moore	John Fellows	Robin Scully	1:06.3
1985	Baiser Vole	Freddy Head	Criquette Head	Robert Sangster	1:05.5
1986	Balbonella	Yves Saint-Martin	François Rohaut	Maktoum Al Maktoum	1:05.8
1987	Balawaki	Gary W. Moore	Criquette Head	Ghislaine Head	1:07.7
1988	Philippi	Alfred Gibert	J. C. Cunnington	Countess Batthyany	1:05.2
1989	Ozone Friendly	Pat Eddery	Barry Hills	Bill Gredley	1:06.3
1990	Danseuse du Soir	Dominique Boeuf	Elie Lellouche	Daniel Wildenstein	1:07.4
1991	Arazi	Gérald Mossé	François Boutin	Allen E. Paulson	1:05.5
1992	Didyme	Gérald Mossé	Criquette Head	Jacques Wertheimer	1:04.5
1993	Psychobabble	Cash Asmussen	Criquette Head	Stavros Niarchos	1:06.8
1994	General Monash	Brent Thomson	Peter Chapple-Hyam	Robert Sangster	1:06.4
1995	Lucky Lionel	John Reid	Richard Hannon	Antonio Balzarini	1:06.1
1996	Ocean Ridge	Thierry Jarnet	Peter Chapple-Hyam	Robert Sangster	1:05.9
1997	Greenlander	Sylvain Guillot	Clive Brittain	Marwan Al Maktoum	1:04.9
1998	Black Amber	Cash Asmussen	Neville Callaghan	M. Tabor & S. Magnier	1:05.9
1999	Rossini	Michael Kinane	Aidan O'Brien	M. Tabor & S. Magnier	1:07.2
2000	Rolly Polly	Mirco Demuro	Bruno Grizzetti	Mack Ferrer	1:04.2
2001	Zipping	Davy Bonilla	Robert Collet	Richard C. Strauss	1:05.3
2002	Never a Doubt	Michael Hills	Barry Hills	D. M. James	1:05.6
2003	Much Faster	Thierry Thulliez	Pascal Bary	Ecurie J. L. Bouchard	1:07.3
2004	Divine Proportions	Christophe Lemaire	Pascal Bary	Niarchos Family	1:04.8
2005	New Girlfriend	Christophe Soumillon	Robert Collet	Richard C. Strauss	1:04.0
2006	Boccassini	Davy Bonilla	Miroslav Rulec	Stall Nik	1:04.5
2007	Natagora	Christophe Lemaire	Pascal Bary	Stefan Friborg	1:03.2
2008	Lui Rei	Dario Vargiu	Armando Renzoni	Scuderia Siba	1:06.1