Prix Noailles

The Prix Noailles is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs) at Longchamp in April.

History

The event was established in 1878, and it was originally called the Prix du Nabob.^[1] It was named after The Nabob, a leading sire in France. Its distance was 2,500 metres.

The Prix du Nabob was one of several trials for the Prix du Jockey Club collectively known as the Poules des Produits. The others (listed by their modern titles) were the Prix Daru, the Prix Lupin, the Prix Hocquart and the Prix Greffulhe. The Prix du Nabob was restricted to the produce of mares covered by stallions born outside France. It was funded by entries submitted before a horse's birth, in the year of conception.

The race was renamed in memory of Alfred de Noailles (1823–1895), a member of the Société d'Encouragement, in 1896.^[2] Noailles played an important role in the creation of Longchamp Racecourse.

The Prix Noailles was cut to 2,400 metres in 1902.^[3] It was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1915 to 1919.

The race was cancelled once during World War II, in 1940. For a period it merged with the Prix Daru. The combined event, the Prix Daru-Noailles, was run over 2,150 metres at Le Tremblay in 1943.^[4] It was run over 2,100 metres at Maisons-Laffitte in 1944 and 1945, and at Longchamp in 1946.

In the post-war years, the Prix Noailles was contested over 2,200 metres. It was cut to 2,100 metres in 2005. It was shortened to 2,000 metres in 2011, and reverted to 2,100 metres in 2012.

Twelve winners of the race have achieved victory in the Prix du Jockey Club. The first was Zut in 1879, and the most recent was Anabaa Blue in 2001.

Records

Leading jockey (6 wins):

• Freddy Head – Goodly (1969), Dragoon (1970), Val de l'Orne (1975), Lydian (1981), Nerio (1988), Grand Plaisir (1992)

Leading trainer (10 wins):

• André Fabre – Jeu de Paille (1983), Cariellor (1984), Dancehall (1989), Fort Wood (1993), Walk on Mix (1995), Fragrant Mix (1997), Slickly (1999), Gentlewave (2006), Grand Vent (2011), Tableaux (2013)

Leading owner (4 wins):

• Marcel Boussac – Irismond (1924), Pharis (1939), Giafar (1947), Faublas (1953)
• Guy de Rothschild – Diatome (1965), Premier Violon (1966), Luthier (1968), Jeu de Paille (1983)

Winners since 1978

^a The 2012 winner Hard Dream was later exported to Hong Kong and renamed Chater Dream.

Earlier winners

* The race was merged with the Prix Daru from 1943 to 1946.

See also

• List of French flat horse races
• Recurring sporting events established in 1878 – the Prix Noailles is included under its original title, Prix du Nabob.

References

• France Galop / Racing Post:
  • 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988
  • 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
  • 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
  • 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
• galop.courses-france.com:
  • 1878–1889, 1890–1919, 1920–1949, 1950–1979, 1980–present

• france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix Noailles.
• galopp-sieger.de – Prix Noailles (ex Prix du Nabob).
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix Noailles (2013).
• pedigreequery.com – Prix Noailles – Longchamp.