Prix Vermeille

The Prix Vermeille is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

History

The event is named after a filly foaled in 1853. She was initially known as Merveille, but was later renamed Vermeille. She did not have a remarkable racing career, but was highly successful as a broodmare.

The Prix Vermeille was established in 1897, and was originally restricted to fillies aged three. Due to World War I, it was abandoned from 1914 to 1918.

The event was cancelled twice during World War II, in 1939 and 1940. It was temporarily switched to Le Tremblay in 1943 and 1944.

The race was opened to four-year-old fillies in 2004, and to older mares in 2006.

Preceded by the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and the Prix de Diane, the Prix Vermeille is the final leg of France's fillies' Triple Crown. The feat of winning all three has been achieved by six horses, most recently Zarkava in 2008.

The Prix Vermeille is held three weeks before the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and it sometimes serves as a trial for that event. The 2013 winner, Treve was the sixth horse to win both races in the same year.

Records

Most successful horse:

• no horse has won this race more than once

Leading jockey (7 wins):

• Yves Saint-Martin – Golden Girl (1963), Casaque Grise (1967), Saraca (1969), Allez France (1973), Paulista (1974), Sharaya (1983), Darara (1986)

Leading trainer (7 wins):

• Alain de Royer-Dupré – Sharaya (1983), Darara (1986), Daryaba (1999), Shawanda (2005), Mandesha (2006), Zarkava (2008), Shareta (2012)

Leading owner (7 wins):

• Marcel Boussac – Durban (1921), Merry Girl (1928), La Circe (1933), Corteira (1948), Janiari (1956), Arbencia (1957), Astola (1961, dead-heat)

Winners since 1965

^a Dar Re Mi finished first in 2009, but she was relegated to fifth place following a stewards' inquiry.

Earlier winners

* The 1961 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.

See also

• List of French flat horse races

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
• galop.courses-france.com:
  • 1897–1919, 1920–1949, 1950–1979, 1980–present

• france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix Vermeille.
• galopp-sieger.de – Prix Vermeille.
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix Vermeille (2012).
• pedigreequery.com – Prix Vermeille – Longchamp.