Prix d'Ispahan

Prix d'Ispahan

2016
A Shin Hikari	Dariyan	Silverwave

Previous years
2015
Solow	Gailo Chop	Sparkling Beam
2014
Cirrus Des Aigles	Anodin	Pollyana
2013
Maxios	Planteur	Mandour
2012
Golden Lilac	Planteur	No Risk At All
2011
Goldikova	Cirrus Des Aigles	Rajsaman

2010-2001
2010
Goldikova	Byword	Wiener Walzer
2009
Never On Sunday	Gris De Gris	Runaway
2008
Sageburg	Darjina	Loup Breton
2007
Manduro	Turtle Bowl	Stormy River
2006
Laverock	Manduro	Krataios
2005
Valixir	Elvstroem	Cacique
2004
Prince Kirk	Six Perfections	Checkit
2003
Falbrav	Bright Sky	Carnival Dancer
2002
Best Of The Bests	Poussin	Banks Hill
2001
Observatory	Hightori	Ekraar

2000-1998
2000
Sendawar	Indian Danehill	Chelsea Manor
1999
Croco Rouge	El Condor Pasa	Gold Away
1998
Loup Sauvage	Astarabad	Marathon

The Prix d'Ispahan is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,850 metres (about 1 mile and 1¼ furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.

History

The inaugural running of the Prix d'Ispahan was the showpiece event of a meeting held at Longchamp on 13 July 1873. The meeting had been hastily arranged to honour the Shah of Persia, Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, who was making an official visit to Paris. The race was named after Ispahan, the French name for Isfahan, a former capital city of Persia.

The Prix d'Ispahan was initially contested over 3,000 metres, and it was originally open to horses aged three or older. Its distance was cut to 2,400 metres in its second year, and it was further reduced to 2,200 metres in 1891, and to 2,100 metres in 1903.

The race was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1915 to 1918. Its present length, 1,850 metres, was introduced in 1921. It was cancelled once during World War II, in 1940. It was run over 2,000 metres at Le Tremblay in 1943 and 1944.

The present system of race grading began in 1971, and the Prix d'Ispahan was classed at the highest level, Group 1. The minimum age of participating horses was raised to four in 1987. It was staged at Chantilly in 1991, and at this venue its distance was 1,800 metres. The race was opened to geldings in 2001.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

• Champaubert – 1897, 1898 (dead-heat)
• La Camargo – 1903, 1904
• Moulins la Marche – 1908, 1909
• Renette – 1935, 1936
• Hierocles – 1942, 1943
• Coaraze – 1946, 1947
• Fric – 1955, 1956
• Crystal Glitters – 1983, 1984
• Goldikova – 2010, 2011

Leading jockey (7 wins):

• Yves Saint-Martin – La Sega (1962), Jour et Nuit (1964), Silver Shark (1966), Zeddaan (1968), La Troublerie (1973), Allez France (1974), Crystal Glitters (1983)

Leading trainer (8 wins):

• Charles Semblat – Hierocles (1942, 1943), Priam (1945), Coaraze (1946, 1947), Dynamiter (1951), Arbele (1952), Chief (1957)
• André Fabre - Al Nasr (1982), Crystal Glitters (1984), Creator (1990), Arcangues (1993), Loup Sauvage (1998), Valixir (2005), Manduro (2007), Golden Lilac (2012)

Leading owner (8 wins):

• Marcel Boussac – Goyescas (1933), Hierocles (1942, 1943), Priam (1945), Coaraze (1946, 1947), Dynamiter (1951), Arbele (1952)

Winners since 1969

^a The 2016 race took place at Chantilly while Longchamp was closed for redevelopment.

Earlier winners

* The 1898 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". , "2015". , "2016". 
• galop.courses-france.com:
  • 1873–1889, 1890–1919, 1920–1949, 1950–1979, 1980–present

• france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix d'Ispahan.
• galopp-sieger.de – Prix d'Ispahan.
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix d'Ispahan (2016).
• pedigreequery.com – Prix d'Ispahan – Longchamp.