Niel History: A late Derby for the Arc

September, ParisLongchamp

QATAR PRIX NIEL
 

ParisLongchamp, France - September

Group 2 - 3-year-old colts and fillies, 2,400m, €130,000 Created in 1952 (Prix de Chantilly)

Race Record: 2'25"60 in 2007 (Soldier of Fortune)

2024 Winner: SOSIE (c3, IRE by Sea The Stars ex Sosia (Shamardal), owned by Wertheimer & Frère, bred by Wertheimer & Frère, trained by André Fabre, ridden by Maxime Guyon.

2024 marked the 73rd running of the race.

The 2024 Edition
 

Sunday, September 15, 2024, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). – The return of the unbeaten Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1) winner, Look de Vega (Lope de Vega), was eagerly awaited. The Al Shaqab Racing representative was the favourite in the Qatar Prix Niel (Gr2), facing four rivals more than a hundred days after his triumph at Chantilly.

Among his opponents were Sosie (Sea the Stars) and Delius (Frankel), who finished first and third, respectively, in the Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1) over this same 2,400-meter course. Look de Vega was quick to take the lead and did not shy away from a fight, but after attempting to respond to the attacks of his two most formidable rivals, he gave way, allowing Sosie to win by 1.5 lengths over Delius. The result was nearly identical to the Grand Prix de Paris, where Sosie finished two lengths before Delius, with the Irish-trained Illinois between them. Look de Vega held on for third, two lengths behind Delius.

At least for the 3-year-olds, the Arc picture needs to be reassessed.

Sosie is the sixth foal out of Sosia (Shamardal), a Listed-placed mare who has also produced Gr3-placed and Listed winner Anasia (Intello) and Listed winner Copie (Iffraaj). Their brother Sosino (New Approach), second in the 2023 Prix Daphnis (Gr3), was sold to Blandford and Ontrack Thoroughbreds for €50,000 at the Arqana Arc Sale ten days after Sosie's first victory. The 2-year-old by Camelot, Uther, is in training with Christophe Ferland.

The Wertheimer brothers acquired this German family through the second dam, Sahel (Monsun), which was brought back by Le Mézeray for €320,000 as a yearling at Deauville. She is a sister to the German classic winners Schiaparelli, Samum, and Salve Regina!

History
 

The name Prix Niel was given in 1972 to the former Prix de Chantilly. This race, open to 3-year-olds and up and run over about 3,000 meters in early September at Longchamp, had its distance reduced to 2,400 meters in 1952. It was restricted to 3-year-olds only in 1955 to serve as a prep race for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The new name was intended to commemorate the eleventh president of the Société d'Encouragement.

The distance of the race has changed frequently: 2,400 meters in 1952, 2,300 meters in 1953 and 1954, 2,400 meters from 1955 to 1959, 2,000 meters in 1960, 2,400 meters from 1961 to 1965, 2,100 meters in 1966 and 1967, 2,200 meters from 1968 to 1978, and 2,400 meters since 1979.

Due to construction at Longchamp, the Prix Niel was run at Chantilly four times, in 1964, 1965, 2016, and 2017. It also did not take place in 2020, as the Grand Prix de Paris was run in its place during the COVID-19 health crisis.

It was elevated to Group 2 status in 1988.

Since 2008, the race has been sponsored, like the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, by Qatar.

Gaston Niel (1880-1970)
 

Grandson of Marshal Niel, Minister of War under the Second Empire, and son of General Niel, Gaston Niel followed the family example and devoted himself to a military career. His career was brief but brilliant, as he left the army with the rank of squadron leader at the end of the First World War. In the military, he practised equestrian sports. While his size and weight prevented him from riding on the flat, he passionately pursued other disciplines, including show jumping, endurance riding, military riding championships, and especially steeplechase racing, as he won several gentlemen-riders' races at Auteuil.

Elected a member of the committee of the Société d'Encouragement in 1933, he was appointed assistant steward two years later, then steward from 1937 to 1948, and finally "first steward" during two periods, from 1949 to 1953 and then from 1958 to 1965.

Already president of the National Federation of French Racing Societies since 1949, Gaston Niel was elected president of the Société d'Encouragement on June 11, 1954, after the death of Henri Foy. He held this presidency for over five years until the day before his 80th birthday in December 1959. He was then awarded the title of Honorary President.

Gaston Niel held the position of president of the National Federation until 1965, for a total of seventeen years. He, therefore, simultaneously held the positions of president and first steward of the Société d'Encouragement and president of the National Federation for two years, 1958 and 1959.

The Niel and the Arc
 

The Niel-Arc de Triomphe double has been achieved by twelve horses: Sica Boy (1954), Puissant Chef (1960), Vaguely Noble (1968), Trempolino (1987), Carnegie (1994), Helissio (1996), Sagamix (1998), Montjeu (1999), Sinndar (2000), Dalakhani (2003), Hurricane Run (2005), and Rail Link (2006). Three other Prix Niel winners also won the Arc de Triomphe, but the following year at age 4: Sagace (1984), Subotica (1992) and Sottsass (2020).

In addition, twelve Prix Niel winners have finished second or third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: Le Mesnil (2nd in 1963), Sigebert (2nd at age 5 in 1966), Hard to Beat (2nd at age 4 in 1973), Youth (3rd in 1976), Crystal Palace (3rd in 1977), Le Marmot (2nd in 1979), Sagace (2nd at age 5 in 1985), Bering (2nd in 1986), Epervier Bleu (2nd in 1990), Hernando (2nd at age 4 in 1994), Sulamani (2nd in 2002), Cavalryman (3rd in 2009), Behkabad (3rd in 2010), and Kizuna (2nd in 2013).

It should also be noted that three horses placed second or third in the Prix Niel went on to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: Soltikoff (1962, 3rd), Peintre Célèbre (1997, 2nd), and Bago (2004, 3rd).

Leading Owners
 

• Aga Khan (5 wins): Akarad (1981), Mouktar (1985), Sinndar (2000), Dalakhani (2003), and Behkabad (2010).
• Nelson Bunker Hunt (3 wins): Dahlia (1973), Mississipian (1974), and Youth (1976).
• Mohammed Al Maktoum and Godolphin (3 wins): Carnegie (1994), Cavalryman (2009), and Brundtland (2018).
• Tabor/Magnier/Etc. (3 wins): Montjeu (1999), Hurricane Run (2005), Soldier of Fortune (2007).

Leading Trainers
 

• André Fabre (12 wins): Cariellor (1984), Trempolino (1987), Subotica (1991), Carnegie (1994), Housamix (1995), Sagamix (1998), Valixir (2004), Hurricane Run (2005), Rail Link (2006), Cavalryman (2009), New Bay (2015), Sosie (2024).
• François Mathet (3 wins): Upstart (1958), Crystal Palace (1977), and Akarad (1981).
• François Boutin (3 wins): Stintino (1970), Le Marmot (1979), and Hernando (1993).
• Maurice Zilber (3 wins): Dahlia (1973), Mississipian (1974), and Youth (1976).
• Alain de Royer-Dupré (3 wins): Mouktar (1985), Dalakhani (2003), and Reliable Man (2011).

Leading Riders
 

• Yves Saint-Martin (4 wins): Nelcius (1966), Akarad (1981), Sagace (1983), Mouktar (1985).
• Freddy Head (4 wins): Taj Dewan (1967), Mississipian (1974), Gay Mecene (1978), Cariellor (1984).
• Gérald Mossé (4 wins): Rajpoute (1997), Behkabad (2010), Reliable Man (2011), Bubble Gift (2021).
• Thierry Jarnet (3 wins): Subotica (1991), Carnegie (1994), Housamix (1995).