Haras d'Étreham Jean Prat History: A new trip for the 3yo flyers

July, Deauville

HARAS D'ÉTREHAM PRIX JEAN PRAT

Group 1, 3-year-olds, 1 400m/7f, € 400,000

Created in 1858 (Prix Biennal des 3ans)

Last winner: Tenebrism (f3, USA by Caravaggio and immortal Verse, by Pivotal), owned by Westerberg, Coolmore & Merribelle, bred by Merribelle, Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt, ridden by Ryan Moore.

Record-time: 1’21’’2 by Too Darn Hot ex 2019 (Deauville 7F record: 1'21''1, Proviso in the 2007 Prix du Calvados)

With 1961 as a starting point, the Prix Jean Prat will be run for the 63rd time in 2023.

The 2022 Edition

The Haras d'Etreham - Prix Jean Prat (Gr1) is the first Gr.1 of Deauville’s summer meeting. Since 2019, the contest has been disputed over 1.400m. The Irish-trained Tenebrism (Caravaggio) is the first filly to land the "Jean Prat" over the adjusted distance! This success also offered both, English jockey Ryan Moore and Tenebrism’s Irish-born trainer Aidan O’Brien, a first victory in the race. Ownership of the filly is split three ways between Westerberg, leading Irish stud Coolmore and the American-based Merribelle Stables.

Westerberg is the name given to the horses owned by Georg von Opel. Born in Germany, and grandson of the creator of car manufacturer Opel, Georg von Opel resides in the United Kingdom. He has also been co-owner of the winner of the Epsom Oaks (Gr1) and the Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1).

Merribelle Stables is the name given to the association of Americans, John Moores and Charles Noell, who are both extremely active on both sides of the Atlantic.

Tenebrism’s dam is well-known in France. Trained in Chantilly by Robert Collet, the champion Immortal Verse won both the Coronation Stakes (Gr1) at Royal Ascot and the Prix Jacques le Marois (Gr1) at Deauville’s summer meeting!

Bred in the Calvados departement by Barbara Moser, Light Infantry took second place for her English connection. Filling the third spot was Lusail, also trained in England.

History

In 1940 the name Prix Jean Prat was given to two very long-established races, initially set up in 1858 under the name “Prix Biennal” and including one race for 3-year-olds and a second race for 4-year-olds. This often confusing scenario reigned until 1985 when the race for 4-year-olds and over was given the name Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (see entry for more info), with the race for 3-year-olds remaining the Prix Jean Prat.

The race was held at Longchamp from its outset until 1966, and subsequently from 1986-1994; moving to Chantilly from 1967-85 and from 1995 to 2018, where it was moved to Deauville. It was promoted to Group 1 status in 1985. Initially raced over 1 mile 2 furlongs until 1961, it was then reduced to 1 mile 1¼ furlongs until 1966, and to 1 mile 1 furlong from 1967-2004. In 2005 it was reduced to 1 mile, and further to 7 furlongs in 2019. 

When it was held in April, this race was part of a series of trials for the Prix du Jockey Club, with Little Duck (1884), Reluisant (1885), Sea Sick (1908) and Duplex (1934) all winning both events in the same year. A look at the list of winners also reveals three winners of the Grand Prix de Paris (old format, over 1mile 7 furlongs): Arreau (1896), Verdun (1909) and Souverain (1946), one English Derby winner in Durbar (1914) as well as the all-conquering Prestige (1906).

In 1961, the Prix Jean Prat underwent some serious changes. First of all, it was pushed back to the last Sunday of May to tie in with the Prix du Jockey Club, before its distance of 1 mile 1 furlong became seen as an ideal stepping stone between the 1-mile Poule d’Essai and the Grand Prix de Paris, held at the end of June and whose distance had been reduced to 1 mile 2 furlongs in 1987. Four horses would go on to win the Jean Prat-Grand Prix double during this period, Risk Me (1987), Millkom (1994), Vespone (2003) and Bago (2004), none of whom had taken part in the Poule d’Essai beforehand.

As part of the 2005 reforms of race conditions and calendars, the Prix Jean Prat (1 mile 1 furlong) should have gone into direct competition with the new version of the Prix du Jockey Club, run over 1 mile 2½ furlongs. Because of this, it was decided to instead pit the Prix Jean Prat against the Poule d’Essai by setting its distance to 1 mile, doubling the prize money from 200 000 € to 400 000 € and moving the race back to the first Sunday of July – thus making it easier for horses that also competed in the Jockey Club to take part. Consequently, Lawman succeeded in winning both the Jockey Club and the Jean Prat in 2007. The Prix Jean Prat was finally moved to Deauville in 2018 and its straight course and shortened to 7 furlongs the next year to fit in an International programme for flyers between Royal Ascot and the Autumn 7f championships.

Six of the finest sires in contemporary times are also inextricably linked with the Prix Jean Prat. Three winners: Riverman (1972), Baillamont (1985) and Priolo (1990); and three second-place finishers: Highest Honor (1986), Soviet Star (1987) and Kendor (1989).

Jean Prat (1847-1940)

This race honours the memory of a famous figure on the French racing scene, Jean Prat. Elected to the Société d'Encouragement committee in 1903, he took on the role of steward from 1906-09 and from 1919-20. Perhaps his greatest service to the Société d'Encouragement came during the First World War. Deprived of funds from race takings, the Société gratefully accepted Jean Prat’s offer to loan them the sums needed to finance the “trials” that the Société was committed to organising during the period of 1916-18. Prat’s loan came with an interest rate of just 5%, although the races were run “without spectators or bookmakers”.

“ The loss of its most senior member has deprived the Société d'Encouragement of one of its most respected advisors. [...] He was true to his word, a loyal friend, sincere and steadfast in his beliefs,” read the obituary notice published in the horse-racing journal La Veine on 6 January 1940. The Marseilles-born industrialist, who owed his fortune to the famous Noilly-Prat vermouth, began his racing career in the South of France. He won his first race on 11 May 1868 at Angoulème with Adour. This horse went on to win a further five races at Avignon, Toulouse, Mont de Marsan and Bordeaux successively, winning twice in the space of three days at the latter course – the second (for gentleman-riders) while ridden by his owner. Prat’s first horse of real calibre was the filly Faisane, who in 1876 won four out of five races as a two-year-old. These victories came at Dieppe (Grand Critérium), Fontainebleau (Deuxième Critérium), Chantilly (Prix de la Salamandre) and Marseilles (Prix de la Ville). Having failed to win on any of her three run-outs as a three-year-old, Faisane hit the victory trail once more at four years of age, following up success at Chalon-sur-Saône by taking the Grand Prix de la Ville de Dieppe.

Once he had set-up his stable in the Paris area, initially in La Croix-Saint-Ouen, Jean Prat would see his colours (brown jersey with orange sleeves, white cap) go first past the post at the very highest level for half a century, often thanks to foals born in his stud farm at Lessard-le-Chêne near Lisieux. Chopine (Prix Greffulhe 1889), Nacelle (Omnium de 2 Ans 1895), Champignol (Prix Lupin, 2nd Prix du Jockey Club 1896), Chambertin born in 1894 (Prix Royal Oak, Prix du Cadran), Clairette (Omnium de 2 Ans 1899), Mirska (Oaks at Epsom 1912) and Cadet Roussel III (Prix des Sablons 1912) were his finest horses prior to the First World War. At the time of that conflict, Prat’s horse Montmartin proved himself to be the finest of the generation born in 1915 by winning the biggest races of the period. The following animals would also distinguish themselves: Galéjade (Poule d'Essai 1919), Macaroni (Prix du Président de la République 1933), Rénette (Prix d'Ispahan (1935, 1936), Sylvanire (2^nd, Prix de Diane 1937) as well as two specimens acquired at public sale, Drap d'Or and Gaspillage, both of whom won the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1937, 1938). Jean Prat’s last great horse was Maurepas (also purchased as a yearling in an auction), who at two-years-old won the Prix La Flèche at Tremblay on 31 July 1939. After his owner’s passing on January 1940, Maurepas would continue racing under the ownership of the Vicomtesse Vigier, who inherited Jean Prat’s colours and breeding stock. Maurepas would develop into one of the finest horses of his generation, as would Magister, born at Lessard-le-Chêne in 1939, who took the honours at the 1942 Prix du Jockey Club and Grand Prix de Paris – two races that Prat had coveted above all.

Foreign-trained winners

21 wins since 1968.

17 from England: Noël Murless (Lorenzaccio 1968, Hill Run 1969), Saeed Bin Suroor (Almutawakel 1998, Thunder Snow 2017), Richard Hannon (Dick Turpin 2010, Havana Gold 2013), John Gosden (Torrential 1995, Too Darn Hot in 2019), William Hern (Sharp Edge 1973), Guy Harwood (Young Generation 1979), Paul Kelleway (Risk Me 1987), Clive Brittain (Lapierre 1988), David Loder (Starborough 1997), Barry Hills (Golden Snake 1999), John Dunlop (Olden Times 2001), Karl Burke (Lord Shanakill 2009), Charlie Appleby (Pinatubo 2020), Ken Condon (Laws of Indices, 2022);

Ireland has also two winners thanks to Vincent O’Brien (Night Alert 1980) and Aidan O'Brien (Tenebrism 2022). Spain also is represented by Mauricio Delcher-Sanchez (Suances 2000).

Owners

• Mohammed Al Maktoum & Godolphin (9 wins): Local Talent (1987), Kitwood (1992), Torrential (1995), Starborough (1997) for Sheikh Mohammed, Almutawakel (1998), Aesop’s Fables (2012), Territories (2015), Thunder Snow (2017), Pinatubo (2020) for Godolphin.
• Niarchos Family (5 wins): Cresta Rider (1981), Melyno (1982), Mendez (1984), Baillamont (1985), Bago (2004).
• Marcel Boussac (3 wins): Marveil (1949), Janus (1950), Locris (1967).
• Aga Khan IV (3 wins): Jour et Nuit III (1964), Silver Shark (1966), Maroun (1971).
   

Trainers

• François Mathet (5 wins): Jour et Nuit II (1964), Silver Shark (1966), Maroun (1971), Lightning (1977), Melyno (1982) ;
• François Boutin (5 wins): Speedy Dakota (1975), Cresta Rider (1981), Mendez (1984), Baillamont (1985), Priolo (1990).
• André Fabre (5 wins): Local Talent (1987), Kitwood (1992), Mutual Trust (2011), Aesop’s Fables (2012), Territories (2015)
• Etienne Pollet (3 wins): Peppermint (1954), Spy Well (1963), Master Guy (1970).
• Christiane Head (3 wins): Sillery (1991), Le Triton (1996), Rouvres (2002)
• Nicolas Clément (3 wins): Le Balafré (1993), Vespone (2003), Stormy River (2006).
   

Riders

• Yves Saint-Martin (6 wins): Jour et Nuit II (1964), Silver Shark (1966), Melyno (1982), Antipode (1974), Earth Spirit (1976) et Ginger Brink (1983).
• Roger Poincelet (4 wins) : Souverain (1946), Marveil (1949), Spy Well (1963), Locris (1967).
• Cash Asmussen (4 wins): Mendez (1984), Baillamont (1985), Magical Wonder (1986), Local Talent (1989).
• Olivier Peslier (5 wins): Le Balafré (1993), Turtle Bowl (2005), Lawman (2007), Charm Spirit (2014), Laws of Indices (2021).
• Lanfranco Dettori (4 wins): Torrential (1995), Starborough (1997), Almutawakel (1998), Too Darn Hot (2019)
• Lester Piggott (3 wins): Speedy Dakota (1975), Dom Racine (1978), Night Alert (1980).