14 July 2020
Photo scoopdyga.com
July, ParisLongchamp
Prix Maurice de Nieuil
Group 2, 4-year-old and above, 2,800m/14f, €90,000
Created in 1920
Last winner: Red Verdon (g7, USA by Lemon Drop Kid ex Porto Marmay, by Choisir), owned by Ron J Arculi, bred by Liberty Road Stables, trained by Ed Dunlop, ridden by Lanfranco Dettori.
It will be run in 2021 for the 101st time.
The 2020 edition
Tuesday, July 14, 2020, ParisLongchamp. - They were 4 to start for 1m6f in the Prix Maurice de Nieuil (Gr2) including 3 French-trained horses who had just competed against each other in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (Gr2) won by San Huberto (Speightstown) facing only one British raider after Appleby had withdrawn his two Godolphin runners from the race.
However, at the end of a race led by Holdthasigreen (Muhtathir), Dettori and Red Verdon (Lemon Drop Kid) had the last word after following closely the front-running Holdthasigreen whom they took over at full speed about one furlong out, as the French challengers were still gathering pace. He kept going and stood his ground to win by a good length over Called to the Bar (Henrythenavigator), who managed to take a short neck on San Huberto. Holdthasigreen couldn't keep up and finishes 4th and last at only 2 lengths.
Sixth in the 2016 Epsom Derby, second in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1) afterwards, Red Verdon became a regular feature both over the classic distance and extended trips and quickly succeeded but was gelded at the end of 2018. Winner of two races in 2019, including a Group 3 over this distance at York in July, he had finished fourth out of four for his return at Chelmsford City on the all-weather but had immediately won a Listed race over 2,900m at Doncaster. This is his first Gr2 win, however.
History
This race was first held in 1920 at Saint-Cloud under the name of the Prix des Maréchaux in honour of the French and allied marshals who had played their part in the victory in the First World War. Not held in 1940 and scrapped in 1946, the race then took on the name of the Prix de Strasbourg in 1947 and 1948, before becoming the Prix Maurice de Nieuil in 1949. Traditionally, it has taken place on July 14, Bastille Day, a slot it still retains on the calendar after numerous exceptions down the years.
Originally open to 3 year-olds and over, 3 year-olds were excluded from 2001 when the distance was raised to one mile six furlongs. The first winner was a 4-year-old, Dolphin, who wore the silks of Atanik Eknayan. After aspiring to be "international" between the two world wars, the race failed to attract foreign-trained horses but did offer an opportunity for certain imported horses to show their quality, like the 1926 winner, Warminster, born in England, and 1932’s victor, the Italian-born Filarete.
Run initially at Saint-Cloud, the event was switched during the war to Longchamp in 1941, 1942, 1944 and 1945, and to Tremblay in 1943. In 1946, it took place at Maisons-Laffitte before returning to its original home, Saint-Cloud, from 1947 to 1989. From 1990, Maisons-Laffitte was its venue, but when repairs to Maisons’ right-hand track commenced in 2005, it was switched to Longchamp again, where it continues to be run.
The race’s distance has often varied. Originally 1 mile 7 ½ furlongs, it was reduced to 1 mile 6 furlongs in 1928, 1 mile 5 furlongs in 1936 and 1 mile 4 ½ furlongs in 1941 and 1942, before rising to 1 mile 5 furlongs in 1943, returning to 1 mile 4 1/2 furlongs in 1944 and 1945 and back to 1 mile 5 furlongs 1946, before settling at 1 mile 4 ½ furlongs from 1947 to 2000. Raised to 1 mile 6 furlongs in 2001, it was extended to 1 mile 7 furlongs in 2004, before being restored to 1 mile 6 furlongs in 2005.
Some great winners have etched their names on the race’s honours list, some shortly after wins in major Classics, such as Le Capucin (Jockey Club as a 4-year-old, 1924) and Transvaal (Grand Prix de Paris as a 4-year-old, 1925). Most often though, they were on the path to prestigious victories such as Chaudière (1935) ahead of the Prix du Cadran, Macip (1955) on route to the Ascot Gold Cup, Master Boing (1956) on his way to winning the Washington D.C. International, Ramsin (1970) before the Prix du Cadran, All Along (1982) ahead of the Arc de Triomphe and Toulon (1991) prior to his St Leger triumph. The 2017 victor Talismanic went on to win a Breeders'Cup Turf and Way To Paris, winner of the 2019 renewal, is now a Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner.
Another notable name on the former list is Romantisme (1957), victorious three weeks after triumphing in the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil.
Maurice de Nieuil (1860-1949)
Elected as a member of the management committee of the Société Sportive d'Encouragement in 1898, he served as its chairman from 1926 to 1945. In his youth, he had ridden as an amateur rider and also owned horses, his black and white-ringed silks enjoying their hour of glory with Agenda, winner of the Course de Haies de Deauville in 1884.
Fillies
11 fillies and mares won the race: Cerulea (at 4, 1927), Beldurhissa (at 3, 1930), Kill Lady (at 4, 1931), Chaudière (at 3, 1935), Nica (at 4, 1938), Singapore Girl (at 3, 1979), All Along (at 3, 1982), River Memories (at 3, 1987), War Game (at 4, 2000), Verema (at 4, 2013) and Candarliya (at 4, 2016).
Foreign winners
The first victorious visitor was Copsale in 1969, trained at Newmarket by Fred Armstrong. He was followed by another successful British competitor, the 4-year-old Homeric trained by William Hern. Although many foreign raiders have launched assaults over the last twenty-five years, they have obtained just 7 victories, courtesy of another of William Hern’s protégés, Merce Cunningham (1988), the Paul Cole-trained Ibn Bey (1989). The German-bred Bussoni (2007) trained by Hans Blume and the Italian bred Voilà Ici (2009) trained by Vittorio Caruso. Then came Walzertakt (2015), trained by Jean-Pierre Carvalho, the English raider Marmelo in 2018 for Hughie Morrison, and Red Verdon, trained by Ed Dunlop and winner in 2020.
Owners
- Marcel Boussac (5 wins): Denver (1934), Jock (1941), Macip (1955), Argal (1958), Emerald (1965) ;
- Khalid Abdullah (5 wins): French Glory (1990), Toulon (1991), Public Purse (1998), Martaline (2003), Bellamy Cay (2006).
- Famille Wildenstein (5 wins): All Along (1982), Serrant (1993), War Game (2000), Pushkin (2002), Ostankino (2005).
- Edouard de Rothschild (4 wins): Happy Go Lucky (1922), Cerulea (1927), Chaudière (1935), Cap Nord (1936).
- Karim Aga Khan (4 wins): Altayan (1986), Darazari (1996), Verema (2013), Candarliya (2016).
Trainers
- André Fabre (9 wins): Saint Estèphe (1985), French Glory (1990), Toulon (1991), Serrant (1993), Public Purse (1998), War Game (2000), Martaline (2003), Bellamy Cay (2006), Talismanic (2017).
- John Cunnington junior (6 wins): Or du Rhin II (1960, 1961), Tournevent (1963), Crucible (1971), Valuta (19732), Admetus (1974).
- Elie Lellouche (5 wins): Vert Amande (1992), Partipral (1995), Pushkin (2002), Ostankino (2005), Blek (2010).
- Alain de Royer-Dupré (4 wins): Altayan (1986), Darazari (1996)n Verema (2013), Candarliya (2016).
Riders
- Christophe Soumillon (6 wins): Martaline (2003), Bussoni (2007), Tac de Boistron (2012), Terrubi (2014), Candarliya (2016), Marmelo (2018)
- Alfred Gibert (4 wins): Kimberley (1966), Riboboy (1977), Singapore Girl (1979), Saint Estèphe (1985).
- Cash Asmussen (4 wins): Full of Stars (1984), Altayan (1986), Aboline (1994), Surgeon (1997).