Prix de la Forêt History: At the crossroads

October, ParisLongchamp

QATAR PRIX DE LA FORÊT

Group 1, 3-year-olds and up, 1,400m/7f, €350,000

Created in 1858

2023 Winner: RAMATUELLE (f3, USA by Justify ex Raven's Lady by Raven's Pass), owned by Infinity Nine Horses (Tony Parker), Ecurie des Monceaux, Hollymount Stud France, Chun Wai Kwok, Ilse Smits, Arthur Hoyeau, and Clément Troprès, bred by Yeguada Centurion, trained by Christopher Head, ridden by Aurélien Lemaître.

Race Record (Longchamp): 1'17"05 in 2015 by Make Believe. Limato won in 1'21"83 in 2016 on the Chantilly track.

2025 marks the 141st running of the race.

The 2024 Edition
 

Sunday, October 6, 2024, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). – A selective field of 18 runners contested the Qatar Prix de la Forêt (Gr1), presented by Education Above All. The race was led at a blistering pace by Matilda Picotte (Sioux Nation), who attempted to run off with the race despite her outside draw. Poet Master (Lope de Vega), who had the rail, and Kinross (Kingman), winner of the 2022 edition and runner-up last year, who had drawn post 2, were also prominent. Tribalist (Farhh) likewise joined the leading group, while Ramatuelle (Justify), one of three 3-year-old fillies in the race, tracked the leaders in her first start in more than five months, following her third-place finish in the Coronation Stakes (Gr1). In the stretch, she was bumped and forced to launch her bid down the center of the track, where she asserted her superiority over Kinross, who had enjoyed a ground-saving trip along the rail. The filly, owned by Infinity Nine Horses (Tony Parker) in partnership with Ecurie des Monceaux, Hollymount Stud France, Chun Wai Kwok, Ilse Smits, Arthur Hoyeau, and Clément Troprès, ultimately won by three lengths over Kinross, who finished a good second ahead of Beauvatier (Lope de Vega), who closed from far back to take third place from Exxtra (Starspangledbanner), who had been well placed throughout.

This was Ramatuelle's first victory of the year following a second-place finish in the Prix Imprudence and two podium finishes in the 1000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes. It was also her first Group 1 win, as she had finished second in the Sumbe Prix Morny last year after winning the Prix Robert Papin (Gr2).

The winner's dam, Raven's Lady (Raven's Pass), was purchased for $300,000 by Yeguada Centurion at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in 2019 after she had retired from racing. In Europe, at age 4, she won the Summer Hill Stakes (Gr3) and the Goldene Peitsche (Gr2), both over 1200 meters. In the USA, she won an optional claiming race on the turf over 1500 meters. Ramatuelle is her first foal, and she was sold for €100,000 to her current owners at Arqana. Her third dam produced the excellent Best of the Bests (Machiavellian), winner of the Prix d'Ispahan (Gr1).

A son of Uncle Mo was born in 2022. He is named Tito Mo Cen and is in training with Victoria Head for Yeguada Centurion, who nominated him for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Gr1).

Covered in 2023 by Churchill, Raven's Lady produced a colt by Lope de Vega.

History
 

Originally, the Prix de la Forêt was intended to serve as a criterion between the champions of different generations. Its excessive distance – 2,100 meters – did not allow this for twenty years. Although the participation of very good horses was subsequently recorded, confrontations between stars of different generations were rare, the best of the most reputable scaring away those of the less esteemed. Nevertheless, the Prix de la Forêt honor roll includes many classic winners.

The following have won the Prix de la Forêt:

• At age 2: Dolma Baghtché (1893, Grand Prix de Paris), Omnium II (1894, Jockey Club), Semendria (1899, Diane, Grand Prix de Paris), La Camargo (1900, Diane), Prestige (1905, unbeaten), Zariba (1921, 2nd Diane), Epinard (1922, "flying horse"), Scaramouche (1923, 2nd Poule d'Essai), Château Bouscaut (1929, Jockey Club), Assuerus (1932, 2nd Arc de Triomphe), Mousson (1936, 3rd Arc de Triomphe), Esméralda (1941, 2nd Diane and Arc de Triomphe), Buena Vista (1942, 2nd Diane), Goyama (1945, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud), Fontenay (1948, Ganay), Tantième (1949, Arc de Triomphe, twice), Hautain (1959, 2nd Arc de Triomphe), Mirna (1963, Moulin de Longchamp), Roan Star (1975, 2nd Poule d'Essai), Pharly (1976, 2nd Poule d'Essai).
• At age 3: Barberine (1885, Diane), Fra Angelico (1892, Poule d'Essai, 2nd Jockey Club), Caravelle (1943, Poule d'Essai, Diane), Ménétrier (1947, Ispahan), Guersant (1952, Poule d'Essai), Midget (1956, 2nd 1000 Guineas), Mincio (1960, Poule d'Essai), Barbare (1966, 2nd Poule d'Essai), Lyphard (1972, Jacques Le Marois), Northern Taste (1974, champion sire in Japan), Producer (1979, 3rd Diane), Ma Biche (1983, 1000 Guineas), Soviet Star (1987, Poule d'Essai), Danseuse du Soir (1991, Poule d'Essai), Paco Boy (2008, Queen Anne Stakes), Dream Ahead (2011, Morny, Middle Park, July Cup).
• At age 4: Le Nord (1891, 2nd 2000 Guineas), Ronde de Nuit (1910, Vermeille), Niceas (1924, 2nd Poule d'Essai and Jockey Club), Faraway Son (1971, Moulin de Longchamp), Dolphin Street (1993, Maurice de Gheest), Bigstone (1994, Sussex Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes), Occupandiste (1997, Maurice de Gheest), Indian Lodge (2000, Moulin de Longchamp).
• At age 5: Coram (1927, Jacques Le Marois), Lovelace (1932, 2nd Jockey Club), Court Masterpiece (2005, Sussex Stakes), Goldikova (2010, Breeders' Cup Mile, 3 times), Moonlight Cloud (2013, Prix Maurice de Gheest 2011, 2012, 2013).
• At age 6: Jus de Raisin (1934, 2nd Poule d'Essai).

Course and Calendar
 

Until 1877, it was reserved for 2- and 3-year-olds with weight-for-age penalties and was run over 2,100 meters. In 1878, it was opened to 2-year-olds and up, the penalties were abolished, and the distance was reduced to 1,600 meters. In 1907, it was transferred to Longchamp. In 1923, its distance was shortened to 1,400 meters. Since 1995, it has been closed to 2-year-olds, and since 2001 it has been open to geldings. Since 2005, the Prix de la Forêt has been "brought forward"; it has been integrated into the Arc de Triomphe weekend.

It was not run in 1870, 1906, from 1914 to 1918, and in 1939. It was run at Auteuil in 1940 and at Tremblay in 1943 and 1944.

To allow for satisfactory comparisons, the year 1878 is taken as the starting point for this study.

The race was run at Chantilly in 2016 and 2017 during the construction work at Longchamp, which it returned to in 2018.

Unexpected Destinies
 

• Azur, foaled in 1880 at the stud of Count de Lagrange. Winner of sixteen races from ages 3 to 5, he was schooled over obstacles at age 6 and won two hurdle races at Colombes and La Marche. At the beginning of his seventh year, he was sent to Nice where, for his new owner Camille Blanc, he finished second in the Prix de Monte Carlo (a major hurdle race) and won the Grand Prix de la Ville de Nice, the star steeplechase of the Nice meeting. At age 8, on his only attempt at Auteuil, he fell in a hurdle race. Out of the 46 races that made up his mixed career, Azur won 19 and placed 17 times.
• Châlet, foaled in 1887 at the stud of Count Jacques Le Marois. Of the nine races he won, the main one was the Prix de la Forêt, which opened the doors of the stud farm to him. "A big horse, strongly built, with a very beautiful hindquarters and good legs, he showed great speed at the end of each race. A marvelous sire of steeplechasers." This was the comment of a connoisseur of the time. As proof, Châlet was the champion sire of jumpers in 1899, 1900, 1901, and 1903.
• Baoulé, foaled in 1927 at the stud of Adolphe Hoffmann. At age 2, he won a race and finished third in the Prix de la Forêt. At age 3, he won four races, including two sprints, the Prix du Gros Chêne and the Prix de Seine-et-Oise, and the Prix de la Forêt. Sold to Arthur Veil-Picard, Baoulé won five hurdle races at age 4, one at Nice (dead-heat), one at Cannes, the Course de Haies de Quatre Ans and the Course de Haies d'Eté at Enghien, and the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil (by a neck) when he was discovering the obstacles of the racecourse. This would be his only victory at Auteuil, his subsequent attempts being made on faster tracks where there was "less to jump." His five other victories would take place at Cannes (Grande Course de Haies), Enghien (two), Clairefontaine, and in the Lyon suburbs on the steeplechase course of Rillieux-Sathonay (at age 9).
• Brocade, foaled in 1981 at the stud of Gerald Leigh, did not race at age 2 and won four races at age 3, including the Challenge Stakes (Group 3), out of six attempts. Her breeder, having decided to keep her in training at age 4, had to wait for her fifth and final race for Brocade to return to winning ways. Fortunately, it was at Longchamp, in the Prix de la Forêt. At stud, Brocade would distinguish herself as the dam of Barathea (1993 Irish 2,000 Guineas, 1994 Breeders' Cup Mile) and Gossamer (2001 Irish 1,000 Guineas).

Fields
 

The fields are generally not very large. The maximum, 16, was recorded twice, in 1974 and 1986. Then there were 15 runners in 1879, 1962, and 1975. The minimum, 3, was recorded in 1922 when Epinard scared off the opposition. Other very small fields were 4 in 1904, 1925, 1937, 1943, and 1954; and 5 in 1886, 1891, 1905, 1923, 1960, and 1993.

Stable Dead-Heat
 

A dead-heat was recorded once, in 1911, when stablemates Montrose II and Pétulance, carrying the colors of William K. Vanderbilt, crossed the finish line together.

Doubles and Treble
 

Only one treble has been achieved, that of the mare One Master, winner in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

The double has been frequently attempted but only achieved by five other horses: at ages 3 and 4 by Azur (1883, 1884), Caravelle (1943, 1944), Sanedtki (1977, 1978), and Moorestyle (1980, 1981); and at ages 4 and 5 by Fine Top (1953, 1954).

The following won and then had to settle for a place the following year (unless otherwise stated): Castillon (3rd in 1881), Omnium II (2nd in 1895), Esméralda (2nd in 1944, three years later), Ménétrier (3rd in 1948), Midget (2nd in 1957), Pharly (2nd in 1977), Goldikova (2nd in 2011), Gordon Lord Byron (2nd in 2013 and 2014). Kinross won in 2022 and finished 2nd the following two years.

The following were placed first and then won the following year (unless otherwise stated): Fra Angelico (3rd in 1892), Princess Margaret (3rd in 1907, 1st in 1908, then 3rd again in 1909), Niceas (3rd in 1923), Baoulé (2nd in 1929), Jus de Raisin (2nd in 1931, 1st in 1934), Vagabond (2nd in 1945), Oférista (3rd in 1956), Faraway Son (2nd in 1969, 1st in 1971), Gabina (2nd in 1988), Tomba (3rd in 1997), Goldikova (3rd in 2009, 2nd in 2011), Limato (2nd in 2015).

It should also be noted that six horses have had to settle for second place several times: Athala (1882, 1883), Tapin (1924, 1925), Slipper (1929, 1930), Fine Art (1942, 1943, 1946), and Nikos (1984, 1985).

Filles and mares
 

It is important because, out of the 141 winners (with one dead-heat), females claim 44 victories (about 30%), of which 18 were achieved at age 2. The most recent were achieved by Occupandiste (1997), Field of Hope (1999), Dedication (2002), Etoile Montante (2003), Goldikova (2010), Moonlight Cloud (2013), One Master (2018, 2019, and 2020), Kelina (2023), and Ramatuelle (2024).

Leading Owners
 

• Marcel Boussac (9 wins): Durzetta (1920), Zariba (1921), La Moqueuse (1928), Esméralda (1941), Caravelle (1943, 1944), Goyama (1945), Pharsale (1950), and Pharaos (1951).
• Wertheimer Family (7 wins): Epinard (1922), Midget (1956), Démocratie (1969), Lyphard (1972), Occupandiste (1997), Goldikova (2010), and Kelina (2023).
• Frédéric de Lagrange (5 wins): Néméa (1867), Phénix (1878), Castillon (1880), Veston (1882), and Azur (1883).
• Daniel Wildenstein (5 wins): Faraway Son (1971), African Sky (1973), Danseuse du Soir (1991), Bigstone (1994), and Poplar Bluff (1995).

Leading Trainers
 

• Henry Jennings (8 wins): Wedding (1859), Finlande (1860), Normandie (1866), Mathilde (1871), Christiania (1872), Barcarolle (1873), Premier Mai (1874), and Péronne (1881).
• Charles Semblat (6 wins): Esméralda (1941), Caravelle (1943, 1944), Goyama (1945), Pharsale (1950), and Pharaos (1951).
• Thomas Jennings (5 wins): Néméa (1867), Phénix (1878), Castillon (1880), Veston (1882), and Azur (1883).
• Christiane Head (5 wins): Ma Biche (1983), Septième Ciel (1990), Occupandiste (1997), Dédication (2002), and Etoile Montante (2003).
• Richard Count (4 wins): Fricandeau (1886), Catharina (1888), Hersé (1898), and Ronde de Nuit (1910).
• William Duke (4 wins): Prestige (1905), Montrose II (1911, dead-heat), Pétulance (1911, dead-heat), and Niceas (1924).
• André Fabre (3 wins): Soviet Star (1987), Poplar Bluff (1995), and Make Believe (2015).
• William Webb (3 wins): Fra Angelico (1892), Dolma Baghtché (1893), and Semendria (1899).
• Edgar Rolfe (3 wins): Omnium II (1894), Castelnau (1896), and Royal Mint (1897).
• William Head (3 wins): Blue Star (1937), Mincio (1960), and Barbare (1966).
• François Mathet (3 wins): Ménétrier (1947), Tantième (1949), and Mirna (1963).
• Alec Head (3 wins): Midget (1956), Démocratie (1969), and Lyphard (1972).
• William Haggas (3 wins): One Master (2018, 2019, and 2020).

Leading Jockeys
 

• Alfred Carratt (5 wins): Normandie (1866), Mathilde (1871), Premier Mai (1874), Phenix (1878), and Barberine (1885).
• Alain Lequeux (5 wins): Mirna (1963), Sanedtki (1977, 1978), Producer (1979), and Procida (1984).
• Freddy Head (5 wins): Barbare (1966), Regent Street (1968), Lyphard (1972), Ma Biche (1983), and Septième Ciel (1990).
• Olivier Peslier (5 wins): Bigstone (1994), Poplar Bluff (1995), Etoile Montante (2003), Goldikova (2010), and Make Believe (2015).
• A. E. Dodge (4 wins): Castillon (1880), Veston (1882), and Azur (1883, 1884).
• Guy Garner (4 wins): Pétulance II (1911, dead-heat), Blarney (1912), Le Grand Pressigny (1913), and Niceas (1924).
• Freddy Palmer (4 wins): Guersant (1952), Currito (1958), Mincio (1960), and Kirkland Lake (1964).