Prix Greffulhe

The Prix Greffulhe 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 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles) at Saint-Cloud in May.

History

The event is named in memory of Henri Greffulhe (1815–1879), a long-serving member of the Société d'Encouragement. It was established in 1882, and was originally run at Longchamp over 2,100 metres.^[1]

The Prix Greffulhe 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 Noailles. The Prix Greffulhe was restricted to the produce of mares born and bred in France. It was funded by entries submitted before a horse's birth, in the year of conception.

The race was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1915 to 1919. It was contested at Le Tremblay over 2,150 metres from 1943 to 1945.^[2]

The Prix Greffulhe was transferred to Saint-Cloud and shortened to 2,000 metres in 2005.

Twenty-two winners of the Prix Greffulhe have achieved victory in the Prix du Jockey Club. The first was Gospodar in 1894, and the most recent was Dalakhani in 2003. Two winners, Sea Bird (1965) and Pour Moi (2011), subsequently won the Epsom Derby.

Records

Leading jockey (5 wins):

• Roger Poincelet – Mistral (1945), Ambiorix (1949), Silnet (1952), Hafiz (1955), Le Mesnil (1963)
• Yves Saint-Martin – Roi Dagobert (1967), Val d'Aoste (1968), Dom Pasquini (1983), Darshaan (1984), Mouktar (1985)
• Cash Asmussen – Arokar (1986), Along All (1989), Suave Dancer (1991), Tikkanen (1994), Montjeu (1999)

Leading trainer (11 wins):

• André Fabre – Along All (1989), Apple Tree (1992), Hunting Hawk (1993), Diamond Mix (1995), Peintre Celebre (1997), Visindar (2006), Quest for Honor (2007), Prospect Wells (2008), Cutlass Bay (2009), Pour Moi (2011), Ocovango (2013)

Leading owner (7 wins):

• Marcel Boussac – Asterus (1926), Tourbillon (1931), Cillas (1938), Ardan (1944), Ambiorix (1949), Scratch (1950), Dankaro (1974)
• HH Aga Khan IV – Hafiz (1955), Naasiri (1978), Darshaan (1984), Mouktar (1985), Dalakhani (2003), Visindar (2006), Kesampour (2012)

Winners since 1979

^a Aristotle finished first in 2000, but he was relegated to third place following a stewards' inquiry.

Earlier winners

* The 1924 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, 2013, 2014
• galop.courses-france.com:
  • 1882–1889, 1890–1919, 1920–1949, 1950–1979, 1980–present

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