Prix de Diane

Prix de Diane
(French Oaks)
Group 1 race
The Chantilly Grandstand at the 2013 Prix de Diane
Location Chantilly Racecourse
Chantilly, France
Inaugurated 1843
Race type Flat / Thoroughbred
Sponsor Longines
Website france-galop.com
Race information
Distance 2,100 metres (1m 2½f)
Surface Turf
Track Right-handed
Qualification Three-year-old fillies
Weight 57 kg
Purse €1,000,000 (2012)
1st: €571,400

The Prix de Diane, sometimes referred to as the French Oaks, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.

It is France's equivalent of the Epsom Oaks, a famous race in England.

History

The event is named after the mythological goddess Diana (in French, "Diane"). It was established in 1843, and was originally restricted to horses born and bred in France. Its distance was set at 2,100 metres, around 300 metres shorter than the English version. It was switched to Versailles during the Revolution of 1848, and was cancelled due to the Franco-Prussian War in 1871.

The Prix de Diane was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1915 to 1918. The first two post-war editions were held at Longchamp, and it returned to Chantilly in 1921. It took place at Longchamp again in 1936.

The race was cancelled once during World War II, in 1940. It was staged at Longchamp in 1941 and 1942, and at Le Tremblay over 2,150 metres in 1943 and 1944. It returned to Longchamp for the following three years, and on the second occasion it was opened to foreign participants. The first foreign-trained horse to win was Sweet Mimosa in 1970.

The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Prix de Diane was classed at the highest level, Group 1. A strike by stable lads caused the 1975 running to be abandoned. That year's favourite had been Ivanjica.

The event was sponsored by Revlon from 1977 to 1982, and by Hermès from 1983 to 2007. It was not sponsored from 2008 to 2010, and has been backed by Longines since 2011.[1]

Two fillies have won both the Prix de Diane and the English Oaks – Fille de l'Air in 1864 and Pawneese in 1976. Six Prix de Diane winners have subsequently won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, most recently Treve in 2013.

Records

Leading jockey (5 wins):


Leading trainer (9 wins):


Leading owner (7 wins):

Winners since 1969

Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time
1969 Crepellana Roger Poincelet Maurice Vacquet Marcel Boussac 2:12.10
1970 Sweet Mimosa Bill Williamson Seamus McGrath Seamus McGrath 2:11.00
1971 Pistol Packer Freddy Head Alec Head Ghislaine Head 2:12.20
1972 Rescousse Yves Saint-Martin Geoffroy Watson Baron de Redé 2:10.30
1973 Allez France Yves Saint-Martin Albert Klimscha Daniel Wildenstein 2:07.50
1974 Highclere Joe Mercer Dick Hern HM Queen Elizabeth II 2:07.70
no race 1975 [a]
1976 Pawneese Yves Saint-Martin Angel Penna, Sr. Daniel Wildenstein 2:09.00
1977 Madelia Yves Saint-Martin Angel Penna, Sr. Daniel Wildenstein 2:10.30
1978 Reine de Saba Freddy Head Alec Head Jacques Wertheimer 2:09.40
1979 Dunette Georges Doleuze E. Chevalier du Fau Mrs Harry Love 2:08.60
1980 Mrs Penny Lester Piggott Ian Balding Eric Kronfeld 2:10.10
1981 Madam Gay Lester Piggott Paul Kelleway Geoffrey Kaye 2:06.50
1982 Harbour Freddy Head Criquette Head Ecurie Aland 2:16.80
1983 Escaline Gary W. Moore John Fellows Mrs John Fellows 2:07.80
1984 Northern Trick Cash Asmussen François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 2:11.60
1985 Lypharita Lester Piggott André Fabre Luay Tewfik Al Swaidi 2:05.90
1986 Lacovia Freddy Head François Boutin Gerry Oldham 2:07.00
1987 Indian Skimmer Steve Cauthen Henry Cecil Sheikh Mohammed 2:11.40
1988 Resless Kara Gérald Mossé François Boutin Jean-Luc Lagardère 2:07.50
1989 Lady in Silver Tony Cruz Roger Wojtowiez Mahmoud Abdul Karim 2:10.60
1990 Rafha Willie Carson Henry Cecil Prince A. A. Faisal 2:11.70
1991 Caerlina Eric Legrix Jean de Roualle Kaichi Nitta 2:10.50
1992 Jolypha Pat Eddery André Fabre Khalid Abdullah 2:09.50
1993 Shemaka Gérald Mossé Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 2:16.00
1994 East of the Moon Cash Asmussen François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 2:07.90
1995 Carling Thierry Thulliez Corine Barande-Barbe Ecurie Delbart 2:07.70
1996 Sil Sila Cash Asmussen Bryan Smart Luis Álvarez Cervera 2:07.30
1997 Vereva Gérald Mossé Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 2:08.20
1998 Zainta Gérald Mossé Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 2:11.20
1999 Daryaba Gérald Mossé Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 2:16.10
2000 Egyptband Olivier Doleuze Criquette Head Wertheimer et Frère 2:08.50
2001 Aquarelliste Dominique Boeuf Elie Lellouche Daniel Wildenstein 2:09.50
2002 Bright Sky Dominique Boeuf Elie Lellouche Ecurie Wildenstein 2:07.60
2003 Nebraska Tornado Richard Hughes André Fabre Khalid Abdullah 2:08.10
2004 Latice Christophe Soumillon Jean-Marie Béguigné Enrico Ciampi 2:07.00
2005 Divine Proportions Christophe Lemaire Pascal Bary Niarchos Family 2:06.30
2006 Confidential Lady Seb Sanders Sir Mark Prescott Cheveley Park Stud 2:05.90
2007 West Wind Frankie Dettori Henri-Alex Pantall Sheikh Mohammed 2:06.30
2008 Zarkava Christophe Soumillon Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 2:07.10
2009 Stacelita Christophe Lemaire Jean-Claude Rouget Schwartz / Monastic 2:06.23
2010 Sarafina Christophe Lemaire Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 2:07.80
2011 Golden Lilac Maxime Guyon André Fabre Gestüt Ammerland 2:07.90
2012 Valyra Johnny Murtagh Jean-Claude Rouget HH Aga Khan IV 2:10.11
2013 Treve Thierry Jarnet Criquette Head Haras du Quesnay 2:03.77
2014 Avenir Certain Gregory Benoist Jean-Claude Rouget Caro / Augustin-Normand 2:05.37

a The 1975 running was cancelled because of a strike by stable-staff.

Earlier winners

  • 1843: Nativa
  • 1844: Lanterne
  • 1845: Suavita
  • 1846: Dorade
  • 1847: Wirthschaft
  • 1848: Serenade
  • 1849: Vergogne
  • 1850: Fleur de Marie
  • 1851: Hervine
  • 1852: Bounty
  • 1853: Jouvence
  • 1854: Honesty
  • 1855: Ronzi
  • 1856: Dame d'Honneur
  • 1857: Mademoiselle de Chantilly
  • 1858: Etoile du Nord
  • 1859: Geologie
  • 1860: Surprise
  • 1861: Finlande
  • 1862: Stradella
  • 1863: La Toucques
  • 1864: Fille de l'Air
  • 1865: Deliane
  • 1866: Victorieuse
  • 1867: Jeune Premiere
  • 1868: Jenny
  • 1869: Peripetie
  • 1870: Sornette
  • 1871: no race
  • 1872: Little Agnes
  • 1873: Campeche
  • 1874: Destinee *
  • 1875: Tyrolienne *
  • 1876: Mondaine
  • 1877: La Jonchere
  • 1878: Brie
  • 1879: Nubienne
  • 1880: Versigny
  • 1881: Serpolette
  • 1882: Mademoiselle de Senlis
  • 1883: Verte Bonne
  • 1884: Fregate
  • 1885: Barberine
  • 1886: Presta
  • 1887: Bavarde
  • 1888: Solange
  • 1889: Criniere
  • 1890: Wandora
  • 1891: Primrose
  • 1892: Annita
  • 1893: Praline
  • 1894: Brisk
  • 1895: Kasbah
  • 1896: Liane
  • 1897: Roxelane
  • 1898: Cambridge
  • 1899: Germaine
  • 1900: Semendria
  • 1901: La Camargo
  • 1902: Kizil Kourgan
  • 1903: Rose de Mai
  • 1904: Profane
  • 1905: Clyde
  • 1906: Flying Star
  • 1907: Saint Astra
  • 1908: Medeah
  • 1909: Union
  • 1910: Marsa
  • 1911: Rose Verte
  • 1912: Qu'elle Est Belle
  • 1913: Moia
  • 1914: Alerte
  • 1915–18: no race
  • 1919: Quenouille
  • 1920: Flowershop
  • 1921: Doniazade
  • 1922: Pellsie
  • 1923: Quoi
  • 1924: Uganda
  • 1925: Aquatinte
  • 1926: Dorina
  • 1927: Fairy Legend
  • 1928: Mary Legend
  • 1929: Ukrania
  • 1930: Commanderie
  • 1931: Pearl Cap
  • 1932: Perruche Bleue
  • 1933: Vendange
  • 1934: Adargatis
  • 1935: Peniche
  • 1936: Mistress Ford
  • 1937: En Fraude
  • 1938: Feerie
  • 1939: Lysistrata
  • 1940: no race
  • 1941: Sapotille
  • 1942: Vigilance
  • 1943: Caravelle
  • 1944: Pointe a Pitre
  • 1945: Nikellora
  • 1946: Pirette
  • 1947: Montenica
  • 1948: Corteira
  • 1949: Bagheera
  • 1950: Aglae Grace
  • 1951: Stratonice
  • 1952: Seria
  • 1953: La Sorellina
  • 1954: Tahiti
  • 1955: Douve
  • 1956: Apollonia
  • 1957: Cerisoles
  • 1958: Dushka
  • 1959: Barquette
  • 1960: Timandra
  • 1961: Hermieres
  • 1962: La Sega
  • 1963: Belle Ferronniere
  • 1964: Belle Sicambre
  • 1965: Blabla
  • 1966: Fine Pearl
  • 1967: Gazala
  • 1968: Roseliere

* The 1874 and 1875 races finished as dead-heats, but each was decided by a run-off.

See also

References

  1. Stoneham, Desmond (5 April 2011). "Watchmakers Longines to sponsor Prix de Diane". Racing Post. Retrieved 25 June 2011.