Qatar Ris-Orangis History: A young sprint classic
Photo scoopdyga.com
July, Deauville
Qatar Prix de Ris-Orangis
Group 3, 3-year-old and up, 1,200m/6f, €56,000
Created in 1970
Last winner: Royal Crusade (c3, GB by Shamardal ex Zibelina, by Dansili), owned by Godolphin, bred by Godolphin, trained by Charlie Appleby, ridden by William Buick.
Record-time: 1’08’’6 by Handsome Sailor (1987)
The race is run in 2021 for the 52nd time
The 2020 edition
Sunday, July 12, 2020, Deauville. - Major players in European sprints, horses trained in Great Britain were back in force in the €56,000 Qatar Prix de Ris-Orangis (Gr3), a 6-furlong race that had remained French since 2006 but that was all but lost to Britain this time the first three home came from Britain.
Another Godolphin raider, Royal Crusade (Shamardal) won very easily despite a sluggish start. Charlie Appleby’s trainee gradually made it up and was able to find his way about 300 yards from home. He fought against Dubai Station (Brazen Beau) in the middle of the course and finally got the best of him, eventually winning by a good length over Glen Shiel (Pivotal), who used to be trained for Godolphin and finished well, Dubai Station and the French-trained Batwan (Kendargent).
The well-fancied Alocasia (Kingman) could not accelerate in the final stages and finished 5th. Tour to Paris (Fuissé) faded after leading.
Twice Group-placed last year over 7 furlongs, Royal Crusade had just made a good comeback over 6 furlongs when 6th in the Commonwealth Cup (Gr1). He's out of Zibelina (Dansili), a winner of the Lieurey (Gr3) over one mile at Deauville. His third dam Talented (Bustino) won the Sun Chariot Stakes (Gr2).
History
This race was first run in 1970 under the name of the Prix d’Evry – after the racecourse being constructed at the time – and was immediately granted Group 3 status. Run initially at Saint-Cloud, then switched to Maisons-Laffitte in 1971 and 1972, it settled at Evry in 1973 under the name of the Prix de Ris-Orangis, the name of a village in the Essonne department on which a part of Evry racecourse was built. When Evry shut its gates at the end of 1996, the race was transferred to the July mini-meeting at Deauville from 1997 and was run since then either at Maisons-Laffitte or Deauville. When the former was closed in 2019, it was once again moved to Deauville.
Originally run in the early spring exclusively by older horses over a distance of one mile, the Prix de Ris-Orangis underwent a complete makeover in 1987: it was given a new slot in early July, its distance was cut to 6 furlongs and it was opened up to 3-year-olds and their elders.
The Prix de Ris-Orangis honours list features the names of some excellent milers, such as Prince Régent (1970), Dictus (1971), Gift Card (1973), El Rastro (1974, 1975, 1976), Sanedtki (1978), Nadjar (1980) and Big John (1982). The sprinters who took over from them include Cricket Ball (1989), Miesque’s Son (1996), Keos (1998, 1999), Zipping (2002), The Trader (2004) and Tiza (2007, 2009).
Owners
- Mohammed Al Maktoum, Darley & Godolphin (7 wins): Wedding of the Sea (1992), Diffident (1995), Time Prisoner (2011), Lockwood (2012), Rosa Imperial (2017), Inns of Court (2018), Royal Crusade (2020).
- Daniel Wildenstein (4 wins): El Rastro (1974, 1975, 1976), Vertige (1986).
- Famille Niarchos (3 wins): Miesque’s Son (1996), Keos (1998, 1999).
- Hamdan Al Maktoum (2 wins): Princes Gate (1983), Thawaany (2014)
Trainers
- André Fabre (6 wins): Wedding of the Sea (1992), Diffident (1995), Time Prisoner (2011), Lockwood (2012), Rosa Imperial (2017), Inns of Court (2018).
- Angel Penna (4 wins): Gift Card (1973), El Rastro (1974, 1975, 1976)
- Alain de Royer-Dupré (4 wins): Naishakar (1984), Tiza (2007, 2009), War Artist ( 2010)
- Robert Collet (3 wins): West Man (1994), Zipping (2002), Mariol (2008).
- John Hammond (2 wins): Miesque’s Son (1996), Keos (1998, 1999).
- Christiane Head (2 wins): Truculent (1985), Divine Danse (1991).
- Henri-Alex Pantall (2 wins): Son Cesio (2015), Damila (2016).
Riders
- Yves Saint-Martin (4 wins): El Rastro (1974, 1975), Nadjar (1980), Naishakar (1984).
- Olivier Peslier (4 wins): Three for Fantasy (1993), War Artist (2010), Thawaany (2014), King Malpic (2019).
- Freddy Head (3 wins): El Muleta (1979), Truculent (1985), Export Price (1988).
- Thierry Jarnet (3 wins): Wedding of the Sea (1992), Diffident (1995), Swedish Shave (2003).
- Cash Asmussen (3 wins): Miesque’s Son (1996), Keos (1998, 1999).