miraflore

Prix de Royallieu

The Prix de Royallieu is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred fillies and mares which are three-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,500 metres (approximately 1 mile and 4½ furlongs) at Longchamp Racecourse, and it takes place annually, presently in late September or early October.

It is named after Royallieu, an area of forest close to the town of Compiègne. This was the location of the stables used by Frédéric de Lagrange, a successful racehorse owner and breeder in the late 19th century. The original version of the Prix de Royallieu was open to horses of either gender aged three-years-old or above. It was contested over 3,000 metres and took place at Longchamp in late October. In 1922 the race was restricted to three-year-old fillies, and its distance was cut to 2,600 metres.

During the early part of World War II, in 1939 and 1940, the Prix de Royallieu was cancelled. In 1941 and 1942 the venue of the race was temporarily switched to Tremblay, where it was run over 2,500 metres. The distance was restored to 2,600 metres when the event returned to Longchamp in 1943.

The Prix de Royallieu was opened to older fillies and mares in 1965. When the present system of race grading was introduced in the early 1970s, the event was given Group 3 status. The present distance, 2,500 metres, was introduced in 1972.

In 1988 the race was promoted to Group 2 level. Also at this time it was moved to its present calendar position – the Saturday of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend. The "Arc" itself takes place on the first Sunday in October.

The fastest winning time in the Prix de Royallieu over its present distance is 2m 37.5s. This was recorded by Mouramara in 2000.

Records since 1922

Leading jockey (5 wins):

Charles Semblat – Tetratela (1924), Frisette (1925), Samee (1934), Miraflore (1936), Queen (1938)
Yves Saint-Martin – Bobette (1961), Monique (1963), Amazer (1978), Euliya (1984), Sharaniya (1986)

Leading trainer (5 wins):

Frank Carter – Pomare (1923), Tetratela (1924), Frisette (1925), Samee (1934), Kiss Curl (1937)
François Mathet – Apostille (1947), Polaire (1950), Bobette (1961), Monique (1963), Trillion (1977)

Leading owner (4 wins):

Evremond de Saint-Alary – Samee (1934), Miraflore (1936), Kiss Curl (1937), Queen (1938)
HH Aga Khan IV – Euliya (1984), Sharaniya (1986), Dalara (1994), Mouramara (2000)

Winners since 1980

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
1980	Mariella	3	Philippe Paquet	François Boutin	Gerry Oldham
1981	Don't Sulk	3	Philippe Paquet	François Boutin	Stavros Niarchos
1982	Gipsy Road	3	Cash Asmussen	François Boutin	Peter Goulandris
1983	High Hawk	3	Willie Carson	John Dunlop	Sheikh Mohammed	2:39.9
1984	Euliya	3	Yves Saint-Martin	Alain de Royer-Dupré	HH Aga Khan IV	2:47.8
1985	Mersey	3	Eric Legrix	Patrick Biancone	Daniel Wildenstein	2:41.0
1986	Sharaniya	3	Yves Saint-Martin	Alain de Royer-Dupré	HH Aga Khan IV	2:40.4
1987	Her Highness	3	Richard Briard	Georges Bridgland	Georges Bridgland	2:46.3
1988	Summer Trip	3	Alfred Gibert	John Fellows	Robin Scully	2:41.6
1989	Passionaria	3	Cash Asmussen	John Hammond	D. M. Kendall	2:38.9
1990	Madame Dubois	3	Pat Eddery	Henry Cecil	Cliveden Stud	2:42.6
1991	Saganeca	3	Gérald Mossé	Antonio Spanu	Ecurie Matemy Farm	2:41.9
1992	Fabulous Hostess	4	Olivier Doleuze	Criquette Head	Jacques Wertheimer	2:53.8
1993	Halesia	4	Dominique Boeuf	Elie Lellouche	Enrique Sarasola	2:49.0
1994	Dalara	3	Gérald Mossé	Alain de Royer-Dupré	HH Aga Khan IV	2:42.2
1995	Russian Snows	3	Michael Kinane	John Oxx	Sheikh Mohammed	2:47.0
1996	Annaba	3	Frankie Dettori	John Gosden	Sheikh Mohammed	2:43.2
1997	Tulipa	4	Frankie Dettori	Saeed bin Suroor	Godolphin	2:39.4
1998	Lexa	4	Dominique Boeuf	Helena van Zuylen	Baron Thierry van Zuylen	2:44.8
1999	Fairy Queen	3	Sylvain Guillot	Saeed bin Suroor	Godolphin	3:03.8
2000	Mouramara	3	Gérald Mossé	John Oxx	HH Aga Khan IV	2:37.5
2001	Moon Queen	3	Frankie Dettori	Jean-Claude Rouget	Joseph Allen	2:49.3
2002	Dance Routine	3	Christophe Soumillon	André Fabre	Khalid Abdullah	2:39.4
2003	Moon Search	4	Christophe Soumillon	André Fabre	Khalid Abdullah	2:48.6
2004	Samando	4	Stéphane Pasquier	François Doumen	Hans Wirth	2:39.4
2005	Oiseau Rare	3	Christophe Soumillon	André Fabre	Bethy Lagardère	2:40.3
2006	Montare	4	Olivier Peslier	Jonathan Pease	George Strawbridge	2:39.5
2007	Anna Pavlova	4	Frankie Dettori	Richard Fahey	Galaxy Racing	2:41.3
2008	Balladeuse	3	Olivier Peslier	André Fabre	Wertheimer et Frère	2:38.3

Earlier winners

1922 - Chantepie
1923 - Pomare
1924 - Tetratela
1925 - Frisette
1926 - Gitane
1927 - Buanderie
1928 - L'Olivete
1929 -
1930 -
1931 -
1932 -
1933 - Armoise
1934 - Samee
1935 - Medea
1936 - Miraflore
1937 - Kiss Curl
1938 - Queen
1939–40 - no race
1941 - Veronique

1942 - Fidgette
1943 -
1944 -
1945 -
1946 - Campanelle
1947 - Apostille
1948 - Frenaux
1949 -
1950 - Polaire
1951 - Monrovia
1952 - Lovely Princess
1953 - Donica
1954 - Rowena
1955 - Vallee du Gave
1956 -
1957 - Tehmany
1958 - Dalaba
1959 - Persepolis
1960 - Pasquinade

1961 - Bobette
1962 - L'X
1963 - Monique
1964 -
1965 - Cassette
1966 - Andrusa
1967 - Monatrea
1968 - Silana
1969 - Riverside
1970 - Prime Abord
1971 -
1972 - Guillotina
1973 - Sybarite
1974 - Ambrellita
1975 - Gramy
1976 - Paint the Town
1977 - Trillion
1978 - Amazer
1979 - Sealy

References

1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
2008