Prix Niel

Turf race infobox
class = Group 2
horse race = Prix Niel


caption =
location = Longchamp Racecourse
Paris, France
inaugurated =
race type = Thoroughbred - Flat race
sponsor = Qatar
website = [http://www.france-galop.com/All-the-races.233+M52087573ab0.0.html?&course_id=3153&no_cache=1&numero_id=99 France-Galop.com]
distance = 2,400 metres (1½ miles)
track = Turf, right-handed
qualification = Three-year-olds
excluding geldings
weight = 58 kg
Allowances
1½ kg for fillies
purse = €130,000 "(2008)"
Distribution
1st: 57%, 2nd: 22%
3rd: 10.5%, 4th: 7%
5th: 3.5%
bonuses = The Prix Niel is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres (approximately 1½ miles) at Longchamp Racecourse, and it takes place annually in September.

Its purpose is to serve as a trial for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, which is run three weeks later at the same venue. The field usually includes some of the leading three-year-old candidates for the "Arc", many of whom will be racing for the first time since mid summer.

The Prix Niel developed from an old race called the Prix de Chantilly, which, prior to 1952, was contested over 3,000 metres by horses aged three-years-old and up. This took place in early September and was run at Longchamp. Its distance was cut to 2,400 metres in 1952, and to 2,300 metres in 1953.

In 1955 the Prix de Chantilly was restricted to three-year-olds only, and its length was restored to 2,400 metres. A separate race was introduced for older horses, initially titled the Prix Henri Foy (and later known as the Prix Foy). Both events were specifically designed to act as trials for the most prestigious race in France, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

During the 1960s the distance of the Prix de Chantilly underwent several changes. The first of these came when it was cut to 2,000 metres in 1960, but this was reverted to 2,400 metres the following year. In 1964 the race began a brief spell at Chantilly, and when it returned to Longchamp two years later its length was reduced to 2,100 metres. A further alteration was made in 1968, when it was extended to 2,200 metres.

The race was given its present title, the Prix Niel, in 1972. This was in memory of Gaston Niel (1880–1970), a long-serving member of the "Société d'Encouragement", the governing body of French racing at that time. Niel became the president of this organisation in 1954, upon the death of the previous incumbent, Henri Foy.

The present distance of the Prix Niel, 2,400 metres, was set in 1979. The fastest winning time since then is 2m 25.6s, recorded by Soldier of Fortune in 2007.

The Prix Niel was promoted to Group 2 status in 1987. It had been previously classed at Group 3 level since the early 1970s.

Twelve winners of the race have gone on to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the same year. The most recent of these is Rail Link in 2006. Two others have subsequently won the "Arc" as four-year-olds – Sagace and Subotica. Three horses have won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after being defeated in this event – Soltikoff (1962), Peintre Celebre (1997) and Bago (2004).

Records since 1952

Leading jockey (4 wins):
* Yves Saint-Martin – "Nelcius (1966), Akarad (1981), Sagace (1983), Mouktar (1985)"
* Freddy Head – "Taj Dewan (1967), Mississipian (1974), Gay Mecene (1978), Cariellor (1984)"----Leading trainer (8 wins):
* André Fabre – "Cariellor (1984), Trempolino (1987), Subotica (1991), Carnegie (1994), Housamix (1995), Sagamix (1998), Valixir (2004), Hurricane Run (2005)"----Leading owner (4 wins):
* HH Aga Khan IV – "Akarad (1981), Mouktar (1985), Sinndar (2000), Dalakhani (2003)"

Winners since 1980

Earlier winners

* 1952 -
* 1953 - Shikampur
* 1954 - Sica Boy
* 1955 - Walhalla
* 1956 -
* 1957 - Amber
* 1958 - Upstart
* 1959 - Montrouge
* 1960 - Puissant Chef
* 1961 - Devon

* 1962 - Kistinie
* 1963 - Le Mesnil
* 1964 - Sigebert
* 1965 - Super Sam
* 1966 - Nelcius
* 1967 - Taj Dewan
* 1968 - Vaguely Noble
* 1969 - Belbury
* 1970 - Stintino
* 1971 - Arlequino

* 1972 - Hard to Beat
* 1973 - Dahlia
* 1974 - Mississipian
* 1975 - Anne's Pretender
* 1976 - Youth
* 1977 - Crystal Palace
* 1978 - Gay Mecene
* 1979 - Le Marmot

References

* [http://www.france-galop.com/All-the-races.233+M52087573ab0.0.html?&course_id=3153&no_cache=1&numero_id=99 France-Galop.com]
* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php?search_bar=stakes&query_type=stakes&field=view&id=612 PedigreeQuery.com]
* Racing Post:
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=93300&r_date=1988-9-11 1988] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=97503&r_date=1989-9-17 1989] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=102110&r_date=1990-9-16 1990] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=106934&r_date=1991-9-15 1991] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=111824&r_date=1992-9-13 1992] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=116864&r_date=1993-9-12 1993] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=122001&r_date=1994-9-11 1994] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=127466&r_date=1995-9-10 1995] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=230821&r_date=1996-9-15 1996] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=243621&r_date=1997-9-14 1997]
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=257236&r_date=1998-9-13 1998] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=272484&r_date=1999-9-12 1999] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=286958&r_date=2000-9-10 2000] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=306715&r_date=2001-9-16 2001] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=322562&r_date=2002-9-15 2002] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=339136&r_date=2003-9-14 2003] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=358649&r_date=2004-9-12 2004] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=391827&r_date=2005-9-11 2005] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=416727&r_date=2006-9-10 2006] , [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=440970&r_date=2007-9-16 2007]
** [http://www.racingpost.co.uk/horses/result.sd?&race_id=466284&r_date=2008-9-14 2008]

ee also

* List of French flat horse races