Prix de la Grotte

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Group 3 race
Prix de la Grotte

Location	Longchamp Racecourse Paris, France
Inaugurated	1889
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat race
Sponsor	SG Private Banking
Website	France-Galop.com
Race information
Distance	1,600 metres (1 mile)
Track	Turf, right-handed
Qualification	Three-year-old fillies
Weight	57 kg
Purse	€80,000 (2008) Distribution 1st: 50%, 2nd: 20%, 3rd: 15% 4th: 10%, 5th: 5%

The Prix de la Grotte is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (approximately 1 mile) at Longchamp Racecourse and takes place annually in April.

First run in 1889, it was initially a race for three-year-olds and above. The conditions were often changed in the early years, before the present version, the fillies' equivalent of the Prix de Fontainebleau, was established in 1952. At this point the distance was 1,600 metres, and following a series of alterations in the mid 1960s, the race returned to this distance in 1968.

The Prix de la Grotte has a very good record as a trial for the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, with many runners subsequently winning or finishing placed in the Group 1 event.

1 Records since 1952
2 Winners since 1980
3 Earlier winners
4 References
5 See also

[edit] Records since 1952

Leading jockey (7 wins):

Yves Saint-Martin – La Sega (1962), Felicia (1963), Mirna (1964), Tonnera (1966), Pola Bella (1968), Koblenza (1969), Captive Island (1985)

Leading trainer (7 wins):

François Mathet – La Sega (1962), Felicia (1963), Mirna (1964), Tonnera (1966), Pola Bella (1968), Koblenza (1969), Hartebeest (1977)

Leading owner (5 wins):

Nelson Bunker Hunt – Gazala (1967), Pampered Miss (1970), Dahlia (1973), Nobiliary (1975), Hartebeest (1977)

[edit] Winners since 1980

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
1980	Aryenne	Maurice Philipperon	John Fellows	D. G. Volkert
1981	Tropicaro	Alain Lequeux	Maurice Zilber	Benjamin Coates
1982	River Lady	Lester Piggott	François Boutin	Robert Sangster
1983	Mysterieuse Etoile	Alfred Gibert	Mitri Saliba	Mahmoud Fustok
1984	Treizieme	Lester Piggott	Maurice Zilber	Thomas P. Tatham
1985	Captive Island	Yves Saint-Martin	Robert Collet	Robert Sangster
1986	Northern Premier	Cash Asmussen	Georges Mikhalidès	Mahmoud Fustok
1987	Sakura Reiko	Tony Cruz	Patrick Biancone	Enshoku Zen	1:39.6
1988	Silver Lane	Cash Asmussen	Maurice Zilber	Mahmoud Fustok	1:37.9
1989	Keniant	Gary W. Moore	Patrick Biancone	Daniel Wildenstein	1:44.8
1990	Houseproud	Pat Eddery	André Fabre	Khalid Abdullah	1:47.3
1991	Danseuse du Soir	Dominique Boeuf	Elie Lellouche	Daniel Wildenstein	1:46.2
1992	Absurde	Freddy Head	François Boutin	Chryss Goulandris	1:41.9
1993	Baya	Thierry Jarnet	André Fabre	Sheikh Mohammed	1:45.1
1994	Flagbird	Thierry Jarnet	André Fabre	Sheikh Mohammed	1:38.0
1995	Matiara	Freddy Head	Criquette Head	Ecurie Aland	1:48.4
1996	Shake the Yoke	Dominique Boeuf	Elie Lellouche	Serge Brunswick	1:36.7
1997	Always Loyal	Freddy Head	Criquette Head	Maktoum Al Maktoum	1:41.3
1998	Zalaiyka	Gérald Mossé	Alain de Royer-Dupré	HH Aga Khan IV	1:50.9
1999	Venize	Olivier Peslier	Robert Collet	Arne Larsson	1:47.2
2000	Lady of Chad	Gérald Mossé	Richard Gibson	John Martin	1:51.5
2001	Quarter Note	Yutaka Take	Henri-Alex Pantall	Sheikh Mohammed	1:50.3
2002	Sophisticat	Jamie Spencer	Aidan O'Brien	Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor	1:40.4
2003	Maiden Tower	Christophe Lemaire	Henri-Alex Pantall	Sheikh Mohammed	1:48.8
2004	Grey Lilas	Gary Stevens	André Fabre	Gestüt Ammerland	1:38.4
2005	Divine Proportions	Christophe Lemaire	Pascal Bary	Niarchos Family	1:42.1
2006	Daltaya	Christophe Soumillon	Alain de Royer-Dupré	HH Aga Khan IV	1:38.3
2007	Darjina	Christophe Soumillon	Alain de Royer-Dupré	Princess Zahra Aga Khan	1:38.4
2008	Zarkava	Christophe Soumillon	Alain de Royer-Dupré	HH Aga Khan IV	1:44.7