Prix Messidor

Prix Messidor
Group 3 race
LocationMaisons-Laffitte
France
Inaugurated1949
Race typeFlat / Thoroughbred
Websitefrance-galop.com
Race information
Distance1,600 metres (1 mile)
SurfaceTurf
TrackStraight
QualificationThree-years-old and up
Weight53½ kg (3y); 57½ kg (4y+)
Allowances
1½ kg for fillies and mares
Penalties
4 kg for Group 1 winners *
4 kg if two Group 2 wins *
3 kg if one Group 2 win *
3 kg if two Group 3 wins *
2 kg if one Group 3 win *
* since January 1
Purse€80,000 (2016)
1st: €40,000
Prix Messidor
2024
White, mauve chevron, white sleeves, red cap Royal blue, white striped sleeves, white cap Royal blue, white stars, royal blue cap, white star
Caramelito Marhaba Ya Sanafi Andromede
Previous years
2023
Brown, red cap Black, dark blue sleeves, white armlets, black and white striped cap Pink, emerald green chevron, halved sleeves, quartered cap
Fast Raaj Topgear Ancient Rome
2022
White, dark green chevron, striped cap White, violet cap Brown, red cap
Wally Longvillers Axdavali
2021
Royal blue Dark blue, yellow stripe, red cap Yellow, green cross-belts, chevrons on sleeves, stars on cap
Victor Ludorum Brentford Hope Kenway
2020-2011
2019
Royal blue White, brown chevron, orange cap Dark blue, light blue cross sashes, diabolo on sleeves, white cap
Impulsif Trais Fluors Study Of Man
2018
Silver and white check, striped sleeves, silver cap Royal blue Blue, grey star, grey sleeves, blue cap
Geniale Jimmy Two Times Zalamea
2017
Blue, white epaulettes, blue sleeves, white cap, blue striped Grey, red epaulettes, grey sleeves, grey cap Blue, white seams, white sleeves, white cap
Taareef Al Wukair Attendu
2016
White, brown chevron, white sleeves, orange cap Claret, gold braid, claret sleeves, claret cap, gold tassel Royal blue
Vadamos Mr Owen Territories
2015
Royal blue Dark blue, light blue cross-belts, light blue sleeves, dark blue striped, white cap Garnet, green quartered, white sleeves, white cap
Fractional Faufiler Bookrunner
2014
White, Blue armlets and cap Blue, white seams, white sleeves, white cap Rose, black seams, pink sleeves, black cap
Graphic Pilote Line Drummer
2013
Blue, white seams, white sleeves, white cap Green, pink epaulettes, white sleeves, pink cap Rose, black hooped, pink sleeves, black hooped, black cap
Intello Mainsail Don Bosco
2012
Red, light green cap Black, black sleeves, black cap, yellow stars Yellow, light blue epaulettes, yellow sleeves, light blue cap
Tin Horse Prince D'Alienor Moonwalk In Paris
2011
Orange, pink star, pink sleeves, orange stars, orange cap Royal blue Blue, white seams, white sleeves, white cap
Vagabond Shoes Biondetti Polytechnicien
2010-2001
2010
Red Orange, black stars, halved sleeves Yellow, purple hoops and armlets, hooped cap
Fuisse Beacon Lodge Silver Frost
2009
emerald Green, Red epaulettes Green, white and red horizontal thirds, green, white and red quartered cap Green, pink epaulettes, white sleeves, pink cap
Alnadana Mr Brock Putney Bridge
2008
Blue, White epaulettes, striped cap Red, White St Andrew's cross, Light Blue sleeves, Red cap Orange m white and black check t orange-coloured
Racinger Spirito Del Vento Chopastair
2007
Dark blue, red striped sleeves, striped cap Red, blue cross-belts, sleeves and cap Green, pink epaulettes, white sleeves, pink cap
Stormy River Satri Multiplex
2006
Royal blue Blue, Yellow star, Yellow stars on sleeves, Yellow star on cap Yellow, Blue cross belts and sleeves, White cap
Librettist Helios Quercus Manduro
2005
emerald Green, Red epaulettes White, blue hollow box, hooped sleeves and cap White, green star, green cap
Valixir Special Kaldoun Salselon
2004
Grey, blue sleeves, striped cap Grey, pink cap White, blue hollow box, hooped sleeves and cap
Ryono Diamond Green Special Kaldoun
2003
White, blue hollow box, hooped sleeves and cap emerald Green, Red epaulettes Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star
Special Kaldoun Tashkandi Bernebeau
2002
Green and pink hooped, pink sleeves, quartered cap Dark blue, light blue cross sashes, striped sleeves, white cap Black and yellow stripes, red sleeves
Altieri Domedriver Proudwings
2001
dark Green, Pink epaulettes and cap Straw White, blue hollow box, hooped sleeves and cap
Panis Duck Row Mocham Glen
2000-1990
2000
Dark green, yellow hooped sleeves, striped cap Green, pink epaulettes, white sleeves, pink cap Royal Blue, Light Blue cap
Faberger Chelsea Manor Kingsalsa
1999
Green, pink epaulettes, white sleeves, pink cap Royal blue Black and yellow stripes, red sleeves
Dansili Kabool Miss Berbere
1998
Royal blue Pink, royal blue diamonds, striped sleeves and diamond on cap Green, pink epaulettes, white sleeves, pink cap
Fly To The Stars Jim And Tonic Orford Ness
1997
Yellow and black hoops, yellow cap White and blue (quartered), yellow sleeves, blue cap Yellow, Black Cross of Lorraine, sleeves and diamond on cap
Neuilly Simon Du Desert Polar Prince
1996
Blue, white spots on body Red, pale green cap White, dark green spots, red sleeves, maroon cap
Grey Risk Nec Plus Ultra Royal Philosopher
1995
Red, pale green cap Red, white sash, royal blue cap White and yellow stripes, quartered cap
Nec Plus Ultra Bishop Of Cashel Tellurium
1994
Dark green, white spots, dark blue sleeves, white spots, white cap, dark blue star Royal blue, white chevron, light blue cap Dark blue, light blue chevrons on sleeves, light blue cap
Jeune Homme Fadeyev Enjoy Plan
1993
Green, pink epaulettes, white sleeves, pink cap Dark blue, light blue cross sashes, striped sleeves, white cap Brown, beige chevrons, brown sleeves and cap
Fanmore Caesour Zabar
1992
Yellow, mauve chevron and sleeves, mauve cap, yellow star White and Black (halved horizontally), check cap, Yellow sleeves Green, red armlets and cap
Take Risks Metal Storm Crystal Path
1991
Yellow and black hoops, yellow cap Royal Blue, Light Blue cap White, red epaulets, blue sleeves, white stars, red cuffs, red and blue quartered cap
Acteur Francais Boxing Day Ganges
1990
Blue, red triple diamond, sleeves and cap Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star Yellow, royal blue seams
Septieme Ciel River Of Light Ocean Falls
 

The Prix Messidor is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Maisons-Laffitte over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.

History

The event was established in 1949, and it was originally held at Saint-Cloud. It was initially called the Prix de Messidor, a name derived from messis, the Latin word for "harvest". The present title, without the "de", was introduced in 1955.

For a period the race was switched between Maisons-Laffitte (1963–65, 1968–69) and Saint-Cloud (1966–67, 1970–72). It began a longer spell at Maisons-Laffitte in 1973.

The race was transferred to Deauville in 1997. It returned to Maisons-Laffitte in 2005.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

  • Catilina – 1962, 1963

Leading jockey (6 wins):

  • Yves Saint-Martin – Catilina (1962, 1963), Cripton (1964), Irish Minstrel (1969), Tassmoun (1980), Ya Zaman (1981)

Leading trainer (13 wins):

  • André Fabre – Mille Balles (1984), Fitzwilliam Place (1987), Mill Native (1988), Polish Precedent (1989), Acteur Francais (1991), Fanmore (1993), Neuilly (1997), Dansili (1999), Valixir (2005), Intello (2013), Fractional (2015), Vadamos (2016), Impulsif (2019)

Leading owner (4 wins):

  • Aga Khan IV – Cripton (1964), Tassmoun (1980), Valixir (2005), Alnadana (2009)

Winners since 1978

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time
1978 Cosmopolitan 3 Philippe Paquet François Boutin Robert Jolibois
1979 American Prince 3 Willie Carson Stuart Murless Burt Bacharach
1980 Tassmoun 4 Yves Saint-Martin François Mathet Aga Khan IV
1981 Ya Zaman 4 Yves Saint-Martin Mitri Saliba Mahmoud Fustok 1:36.20
1982 Noalcoholic 5 George Duffield Gavin Pritchard-Gordon William du Pont III
1983 Pampabird 4 Maurice Philipperon John Cunnington Jr. Paul de Moussac 1:35.20
1984 Mille Balles 4 Freddy Head André Fabre Enzo di Nella 1:37.30
1985 Comrade in Arms 3 Alfred Gibert Philippe Lallié D. W. Molins 1:36.10
1986 Gay Minstrel 5 Gary W. Moore Criquette Head Jacques Wertheimer 1:37.00
1987 Fitzwilliam Place 3 Dominique Boeuf André Fabre Bruce McNall 1:34.50
1988 Mill Native 4 Cash Asmussen André Fabre Paul de Moussac 1:34.20
1989 Polish Precedent 3 Cash Asmussen André Fabre Sheikh Mohammed 1:36.30
1990 Septieme Ciel 3 Freddy Head Criquette Head Johnny Jones 1:41.30
1991 Acteur Francais 3 Thierry Jarnet André Fabre Paul de Moussac 1:36.08
1992 Take Risks 3 Mathieu Boutin Jean Lesbordes David Tsui 1:41.00
1993 Fanmore 5 Thierry Jarnet André Fabre Khalid Abdullah 1:36.30
1994 Jeune Homme 4 Cash Asmussen François Boutin Yoshio Asakawa 1:39.10
1995 Nec Plus Ultra 4 Thierry Gillet Alain de Royer-Dupré Marquesa de Moratalla 1:36.50
1996 Grey Risk 3 Sylvain Guillot Philippe Demercastel Ecurie Bader 1:40.50
1997 Neuilly 3 Alain Junk André Fabre Mrs Paul de Moussac 1:37.10
1998 Fly to the Stars 4 Daragh O'Donohoe Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 1:36.60
1999 Dansili 3 Olivier Peslier André Fabre Khalid Abdullah 1:33.70
2000 Faberger 4 L. Hammer-Hansen Erika Mäder Wiesenhof Bloodstock 1:39.50
2001 Panis 3 Thierry Thulliez Pascal Bary Ecurie J. L. Bouchard 1:38.40
2002 Altieri 4 Gabriele Bietolini Vittorio Caruso Scuderia Incolinx 1:40.30
2003 Special Kaldoun 4 Dominique Boeuf David Smaga Ecurie Chalhoub 1:34.60
2004 Ryono 5 Tony Castanheira Peter Lautner Hildegard Focke 1:39.60
2005 Valixir 4 Christophe Soumillon André Fabre Aga Khan IV 1:35.70
2006 Librettist 4 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 1:36.00
2007 Stormy River 4 Thierry Thulliez Nicolas Clément Ecurie Mister Ess A S 1:33.90
2008 Racinger 5 Davy Bonilla Freddy Head Hamdan Al Maktoum 1:35.70
2009 Alnadana 4 Christophe Soumillon Alain de Royer-Dupré Aga Khan IV 1:38.70
2010 Fuisse 4 Stéphane Pasquier Criquette Head-Maarek Haras du Quesnay 1:35.30
2011 Vagabond Shoes 4 Christophe Soumillon Yan Durepaire Javier Martinez Salmean 1:39.50
2012 Tin Horse 4 Thierry Jarnet Didier Guillemin Marquesa de Moratalla 1:35.45
2013 Intello 3 Olivier Peslier André Fabre Wertheimer et Frère 1:34.00
2014 Graphic 5 Frankie Dettori William Haggas Royal Ascot Racing Club 1:38.10
2015 Fractional 6 Mickael Barzalona André Fabre Godolphin 1:38.40
2016 Vadamos 5 Vincent Cheminaud André Fabre Haras de Saint Pair 1:35.10
2017 Taareef 4 Ioritz Mendizabal Jean-Claude Rouget Hamdan Al Maktoum 1:34.86
2018 Geniale 4 Yutaka Take Mikio Matsunaga Kieffers Co Ltd 1:37.62
2019 Impulsif [a] 4 Mickael Barzalona André Fabre Godolphin 1:38.80
2020 Not run due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 Victor Ludorum [b] 4 Mickael Barzalona André Fabre Godolphin 1:40.02
2022 Wally [c] 5 Cristian Demuro Jean-Claude Rouget Ecurie Jean-Pierre Barjon 1:39.37
2023 Fast Raaj [d] 5 Alexis Pouchin Yann Barberot Alain Jathiere, Ecurie Du Parc Monceau Et Al 1:36.81

a The 2019 running moved to Deauville during unsafely track.
b The 2021 running moved to Chantilly due to the closure of Maisons-Laffitte.
c The 2022 running moved to Chantilly due to the closure of Maisons-Laffitte
d The 2023 running moved to Chantilly due to the closure of Maisons-Laffitte.

Earlier winners

  • 1949: Beverly
  • 1950: Philactis
  • 1951:
  • 1952: no race
  • 1953: Pomare
  • 1954: Phlox
  • 1955: Chargeur
  • 1956: Cigalon
  • 1957–59: no race
  • 1960: Fin Bec
  • 1961: Pen Mane
  • 1962: Catilina
  • 1963: Catilina
  • 1964: Cripton
  • 1965: Red Slipper
  • 1966: Agy
  • 1967: Morris Dancer
  • 1968: Fisc
  • 1969: Irish Minstrel
  • 1970: Brabant
  • 1971: Joshua
  • 1972: Arosa
  • 1973: Martinmas
  • 1974: El Toro
  • 1975: Son of Silver
  • 1976: Dona Barod
  • 1977: Malecite

See also

References