Prix Vicomtesse Vigier Explained

Class:Group 2
Horse Race:Prix Vicomtesse Vigier
Location:Longchamp Racecourse
Paris, France
Inaugurated:1859
Race Type:Flat / Thoroughbred
Website:france-galop.com
Distance:3,100 metres (1m 7½f)[1]
Surface:Turf
Track:Right-handed
Qualification:Four-years-old and up
Weight:56 kg
Allowances
1½ kg for fillies and mares
Penalties
2 kg for Group 1 winners *
1 kg for Group 2 winners *
* since January 1 last year
Purse:130,000 (2022)
1st: €74,100

|}The Prix Vicomtesse Vigier is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 3,100 metres (about 1 mile and 7½ furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.

History

The event was established in 1859 and named after the Viscountess Vigier. It was originally the second leg of a pair of races called the Prix Biennal. The first leg, for three-year-olds, was created a year earlier. The version for older horses was initially contested over 3,200 metres. It was cancelled because of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, and it was cut to 3,000 metres in 1897. It was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1915 to 1918.

Both legs of the Prix Biennal were given a new title, the Prix Jean Prat, in 1940. This was in memory of Jean Prat (1847–1940), a successful racehorse owner and breeder. The older horses' version was held at Maisons-Laffitte from 1943 to 1945, and on the first occasion it was contested over 3,100 metres. It returned to Longchamp in 1946, and its regular distance was extended to 3,100 metres in 1955.

The Prix Jean Prat for older horses was renamed the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier in 1985. This was in honour of Vicomtesse Vigier, Madeleine Double de Saint-Lambert (1869–1970), the niece of Jean Prat, who inherited her uncle's stable upon his death. The version for three-year-olds continued with the title Prix Jean Prat.

The Prix Vicomtesse Vigier used to be held several weeks before the Prix du Cadran, but that race was switched from May to October in 1991. The leading contenders often go on to compete in the latter event, and the last to win both in the same year was Vazirabad in 2017.

Records

Most successful horse (3 wins):

----Leading jockey (6 wins):

----Leading trainer (7 wins):

----Leading owner (5 wins):

Winners since 1979

border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:90%"
YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainerOwnerTime
1979width=125px Campero6width=155px Freddy Headwidth=152px Maurice Zilberwidth=164px J. Moreno3:16.80
1980Hard to Sing4Georges DoleuzeCharlie MilbankN. Lathom-Sharp3:24.90
1981Gold River4Freddy HeadAlec HeadJacques Wertheimer3:39.90
1982Starski4Freddy HeadAlain de Royer-DupréMarquesa de Moratalla3:28.40
1983Kelbomec7Jean-Claude DesaintJ. C. Cunnington Mrs Jacques Barker3:37.30
1984Magwal5Alfred GibertAndré FabreMahmoud Fustok3:17.20
1985Balitou6Éric LegrixPatrick BianconeDaniel Wildenstein3:32.20
1986Air de Cour4Éric LegrixPatrick BianconeDaniel Wildenstein3:42.20
1987Tale Quale5Tony CruzPatrick BianconeDaniel Wildenstein3:25.70
1988Royal Gait5Alfred GibertJohn FellowsManuel Pereira-Arias3:28.00
1989Rachmaninov4Cash AsmussenÉlie LelloucheJean-Claude Abecassis3:37.30
1990Turgeon4Tony CruzJonathan PeaseGeorge Strawbridge3:26.30
1991Turgeon5Cash AsmussenJonathan PeaseGeorge Strawbridge3:20.00
1992Commendable4Pat EdderyHenri-Alex PantallKhalid Abdullah3:23.80
1993Dadarissime4Freddy HeadGeorges BridglandSir James Goldsmith3:20.80
1994Molesnes4Olivier PeslierMarcel RollandMichel Perret3:27.90
1995The Little Thief4Alain JunkEric DanelGeorge Ohrstrom3:29.70
1996Double Eclipse4Jason WeaverMark JohnstonMiddleham Partnership3:28.20
1997Stretarez4Frédéric SanchezDominique SépulchreJean-Luc Lagardère3:28.80
1998Tajoun4Gérald MosséAlain de Royer-DupréHH Aga Khan IV3:18.50
1999Kayf Tara5Sylvain GuillotSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin3:22.90
2000Amilynx4Olivier PeslierAndré FabreJean-Luc Lagardère3:27.20
2001Speedmaster4Dominique BoeufFrançois DoumenHorst Rapp3:19.30
2002Wareed4Frankie DettoriSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin3:15.80
2003Cut Quartz6Thierry JarnetRichard GibsonAntoinette Kavanagh3:32.70
2004Forestier4Christophe LemaireEric DanelMrs René J. Wattinne3:29.90
2005Westerner6Olivier PeslierÉlie LelloucheEcurie Wildenstein3:15.80
2006Shamdala4Christophe SoumillonAlain de Royer-DupréHH Aga Khan IV3:22.50
2007Lord du Sud6Christophe LemaireJean-Claude RougetBéatrice Hermelin3:33.60
2008Coastal Path4Stéphane PasquierAndré FabreKhalid Abdullah3:18.60
2009Americain4Olivier PeslierAndré FabreWertheimer et Frère3:28.78
2010Kite Wood4Frankie DettoriSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin3:20.00
2011Brigantin4Pierre-Charles BoudotAndré FabreTeam Valor3:31.60
2012Ivory Land5Stéphane PasquierAlain de Royer-DupréEduardo Fierro3:26.69
2013Domeside7Christophe SoumillonMauricio Delcher-SanchezSafsaf Canarias Srl3:27.01
2014Fly With Me4Maxime GuyonEric LibaudJean Luck3:32.22
2015Bathyrhon5Maxime GuyonPia BrandtAvaz Ismoilov3:20.74
2016Vazirabad4Christophe SoumillonAlain de Royer-DupréAga Khan IV3:35.96
2017Vazirabad5Christophe SoumillonAlain de Royer-DupréAga Khan IV3:37.11
2018Vazirabad6Christophe SoumillonAlain de Royer-DupréAga Khan IV3:14.46
2019Called To The Bar5Theo BachelotPia BrandtFair Salinia / Pia Brandt3:12.23
2020San Huberto4Pierre-Charles BoudotFabrice ChappetOTI Racing3:10.34
2021Skazino5Mickael BarzalonaCedric RossiLa Haras de la Gousserie3:27.19
2022Skazino6Mickael BarzalonaRichard ChotardLa Haras de la Gousserie3:22.99
2023Sober4Maxime GuyonAndré FabreWertheimer et Frère3:21.98
2024Sevenna's Knight4Mickael BarzalonaAndré FabreOTI Racing3:21.15

Earlier winners

See also

References

----

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Prix Vicomtesse Vigier. The French Black Type. 13 June 2017.