The Grand Prix de Vichy is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Vichy over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.

Grand Prix de Vichy
Group 3 race
LocationVichy Racecourse
Vichy, France
Inaugurated1875
Race typeFlat / Thoroughbred
Websitefrance-galop.com
Race information
Distance2,000 metres (1¼ miles)
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed
QualificationThree-years-old and up
Weight53½ kg (3yo); 58 kg (4yo+)
Allowances
1½ kg for fillies and mares
Penalties
4 kg for Group 1 winners *
3 kg for Group 2 winners *
2 kg for Group 3 winners *
* since January 1
Purse€56,000 (2020)
1st: €28,000
Grand Prix de Vichy-Auvergne
2021
Light blue, yellow diamond on body Green, large yellow spots, yellow sleeves, green chevron, yellow cap Royal blue
Grand Glory Diamond Vendome Algiers
Previous years
2020
Orange, grey hoops on body Purple, white chevrons on sleeves, white cap Yellow, white sleeves, yellow cap
Spirit Of Nelson Top Max Styledargent
2019
Green, large yellow spots, yellow sleeves, green chevron, yellow cap Royal blue White, black checked sleeves, black cap
Diamond Vendome Soleil Marin Royal Julius
2018
white, purple circle White, black diamond, white sleeves, black seams, black cap Orange, blue diagonal stripes, orange sleeves, black armlets, black cap
Noor Al Hawa Golden Legend Subway Dancer
2017
Orange, orange sleeves, light blue cap Royal Blue, Light blue chevrons on sleeves, Light blue cap Blue, white epaulettes, blue sleeves, white cap, blue striped
Best Fouad Garlingari Qurbaan
2016
green, white diabolo, white sleeves, white cap Dark green, white stripe, dark green sleeves, white armlets, dark green cap Yellow, dark green cap
Night Wish Black Sea Prestige Vendome
2015
Yellow, yellow sleeves, blue cap Blue, white spots, blue sleeves, white spots, black cap Garnet, grey epaulettes, maroon sleeves, maroon cap
Elliptique Mambomiss Meadow Creek
2014
Blue, blue sleeves, blue cap, red star Royal blue, light blue epaulets and cap Black, yellow stripe, black sleeves, yellow armlets, black cap
Hippy Ipswich Vif Monsieur
2013
Black, purple chevrons on body Dark blue, white star, red cap Red, purple sleeves
Saga Dream Vally Jem Shamalgan
2012
Purple and yellow (quartered), striped sleeves, quartered cap Orange, black chevrons, diabolo on sleeves, black cap Pink, black hooped, pink sleeves, black hooped, black cap
No Risk At All Ok Coral Don Bosco
2011
Grey, maroon braces, striped sleeves and cap White, purple chevrons and cap Black, purple chevrons on body
Cirrus Des Aigles Agent Secret Saga Dream
2010-2001
2010
White, purple chevrons and cap Blue, orange disc, spots on sleeves, orange cap Dark blue, white sleeves, red stars, red cap, white star
Agent Secret Pont Des Arts Tip Toe
2009
Purple, white cross of lorraine and sleeves Blue, white seams, white sleeves, white cap Yellow, purple sleeves and cap
Daly Daly Inestimable Celtic Wolf
2008
Yellow and blue hoops Green, pink epaulettes, white sleeves, pink cap Light blue, dark blue diamond and sleeves, red cap
Hapsburg Kocab Boris De Deauville
2007
White, black diamond, white sleeves, black seams, black cap Dark blue, grey stars, dark blue cap, grey star Yellow and blue diamonds
Atlantic Air Balius Kentucky Dynamite
2006
Emerald green, white sash with yellow piping, emerald green and yellow check sleeves, white cap with pom pom Yellow, mauve epaulets, armlets and cap Orange purple diamonds, seams on sleeves
Touch Of Land Ruwi Mohandas
2005
Emerald green, white sash with yellow piping, emerald green and yellow check sleeves, white cap with pom pom Green, pink epaulettes, white sleeves, pink cap Black, pink chevrons on sleeves, quartered cap
Touch Of Land Apsis Islero Noir
2004
Royal blue, yellow cap Pink, black chevrons on body, hooped cap Pink, yellow seams and cap
Bailador Demon Dancer Mister Farmer
2003
White, blue chevron, pink cap Yellow, green striped sleeves Beige, red cap
Vangelis Labirinto Almond Mousse
2002
Yellow and purple diamonds, striped sleeves, purple cap Purple, red star, red cap, white diamonds Yellow, orange cap
Cheshire King Of Tara Choc Ice
2001
BLACK, white diamond and diamonds on sleeves, red cap Dark blue, green spots and sleeves, green cap, blue spots Royal blue and red stripes, chevrons on sleeves, quartered cap
Boismorand Cazoulias Homeland
2000-1990
2000
White, black diamond, white sleeves, black seams, black cap emerald Green, Red epaulettes Green, yellow star, striped cap
Kerrygold Tijiyr Milord Fontenaille
1999
Royal Blue, Light Blue cap Yellow, grey armlets and cap Pink, royal blue diamonds, striped sleeves and diamond on cap
Victory Cry Trait De Genie Quel Senor
1998
Light blue, mauve spots on body and cap White, red chevrons on body, quartered cap Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap
Steward Foggy Day Go Boldly
1997
White, black hoop, black cap, white hoop Pink, grey sleeves Green, blue and red sash, red cap
Baroud D'Honneur Bulington Zero Problemo
1996
Pink, grey sleeves Grey, pink cap Yellow, light blue hoop, armlets and cap
Bulington Diamond Mix Top Glory
1995
Dark blue, yellow sleeves, hooped cap Maroon and white diabolo, maroon sleeves, white cap White, dark green triple diamond, diamond on cap
Marildo Solidoun Captain Haddock
1994
owned by Mme A Rogers White, dark green triple diamond, diamond on cap Dark blue, yellow sleeves, hooped cap
Mint Crisp Captain Haddock Marildo
1993
Dark blue, yellow sleeves, hooped cap Light green, maroon seams and cap owned by Stall Nordpol
Marildo Oumnaz Vincenzo
1992
Purple, pink cross-belts, hooped sleeves, pink cap Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star Black and yellow (quartered), yellow cap, pink spots
Goofalik Tel Quel Daros
1991
Orange, blue chevrons, yellow sleeves and cap unknown owner Dark blue, light blue cross sashes, striped sleeves, white cap
Danae De Brule Mister Mat Echoes
1990
Emerald green and canary (quartered) Dark green and black check, hooped sleeves, green cap Dark green, pink star, armlets and cap
North Col Per Quod Kandis
 

History

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The event was established in 1875, and it was originally called the Grand Prix de Vichy. It was run as a handicap until 1899, and during this period its distance was frequently modified. For several years thereafter it was titled the Grand Prix International du Cercle de Vichy. It was abandoned in 1907, and became known as the Grand Prix de la Ville de Vichy the following year.

The title was appended with "et de la Société de Sport de France" in 1958. The Société de Sport de France owned the racecourse, and later merged with similar organisations to form France Galop.

The event reverted to its original name in 1965, and was run as a handicap in 1970. It was given Group 3 status in 1976.

The name of the region where Vichy is located, Auvergne, was added to the title in 2005 and removed in 2015.

The race has been contested over various distances, with spells over 2,600 metres (1900–41, 1943–64, 1966–75), 2,400 metres (1976–91) and 2,000 metres (1992–present).

Records

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Most successful horse (2 wins):

  • Shikani – 1960, 1961
  • Perouges – 1979, 1980
  • Marildo – 1993, 1995
  • Touch of Land – 2005, 2006

Leading jockey (6 wins):

  • Christophe SoumillonKerrygold (2000), Vangelis (2003), Bailador (2004), Daly Daly (2009), Saga Dream (2013), One For Bobby (2023)

Leading trainer (4 wins):

  • James Cunnington – Marichette (1881), Dacis (1891), Machiavel (1898), Kerlaz (1900)
  • Robert Denman – Gouvernant (1904), Marsa (1910), Checkmate (1923), Alguazil (1926, dead-heat)
  • Antoine Lassard – Yakoba (1934), Ortolan (1935), Champittet (1941), Clodoche (1943)

Leading owner (7 wins):

  • Marcel BoussacGrillemont (1924, dead-heat), Alguazil (1926, dead-heat), Thaouka (1932), Dadji (1937), Coaraze (1947), Amphis (1952), Shaker (1954)

Winners since 1979

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Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time
1979 Perouges 4 Jacques Le Deunf Alain Lyon André Rivière
1980 Perouges 5 Jacques Le Deunf Alain Lyon André Rivière
1981 Lord Jack 4 Jean Massard Henri Gleizes Mrs François Elion
1982 Karkour 4 Yves Saint-Martin Joseph Audon Ecurie Manhattan
1983 Terreno 5 Yves Saint-Martin François Boutin Gerry Oldham
1984 Nature 6 Jean Massard François Elion Mrs Jean Carlier
1985 Lauville 4 Guy Guignard Gérard Philippeau Marie-Louise Blain
1986 Agent Double 5 Gary W. Moore Criquette Head Jacques Wertheimer
1987 Sarepta 6 Robert Laplanche Louis Boulard Jacques Bedel 2:25.70
1988 Altashar 3 Eric Saint-Martin Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 2:29.45
1989 Prince Ruffian 4 Cash Asmussen François Bellenger Dominique Boulloche 2:34.40
1990 North Col 3 Tony Cruz Jonathan Pease Simon Emmet 2:29.00
1991 Danae de Brule 4 Robert Laplanche Maurice Prod'homme Léon Seile 2:34.50
1992 Goofalik 5 Cash Asmussen John Hammond David Thompson 2:03.30
1993 Marildo 6 Guy Guignard David Smaga David Smaga 2:02.30
1994 Mint Crisp 4 Olivier Doleuze Dominique Sépulchre Mrs A. Rogers 2:08.70
1995 Marildo 8 Guy Guignard David Smaga David Smaga 2:05.50
1996 Bulington 4 Cash Asmussen Henri-Alex Pantall Philippe Pierry 2:04.20
1997 Baroud d'Honneur 4 Franck Blondel Jean-François Bernard Axelle Nègre 2:05.10
1998 Steward 5 Sylvain Guillot Dominique Sépulchre Georges Coude 2:06.50
1999 Victory Cry 3 Olivier Peslier André Fabre Daniel Wildenstein 2:05.30
2000 Kerrygold 4 Christophe Soumillon Pascal Bary Antonia Devin 2:08.60
2001 Boismorand 5 Vincent Vion Melchior Mathet Maurice Clifford 2:09.20
2002 Cheshire 5 Yutaka Take John Hammond Peter Willmott 2:06.40
2003 Vangelis 4 Christophe Soumillon Alain de Royer-Dupré Napping Ltd 2:08.90
2004 Bailador 4 Christophe Soumillon André Fabre Edouard de Rothschild 2:08.64
2005 Touch of Land 5 Christophe Lemaire Henri-Alex Pantall Gary Tanaka 2:03.80
2006 Touch of Land 6 Olivier Peslier Henri-Alex Pantall Gary Tanaka 2:10.19
2007 Atlantic Air 5 Thierry Thulliez Yves de Nicolay Antonia Devin 2:35.15
2008 Hapsburg 4 Ioritz Mendizabal Eric Libaud Jean Luck 2:05.45
2009 Daly Daly 5 Christophe Soumillon Robert Laplanche Bernard Giraudon 2:12.12
2010 Agent Secret 4 François-Xavier Bertras François Rohaut Raoul Temam 2:15.12
2011 Cirrus des Aigles 5 Franck Blondel Corine Barande-Barbe Jean-Claude Dupouy 2:14.00
2012 No Risk at All 5 Ioritz Mendizabal Jean-Paul Gallorini Jean-Paul Gallorini 2:06.82
2013 Saga Dream 7 Christophe Soumillon Freddy Lemercier Freddy Lemercier 2:07.79
2014 Hippy 6 Eric Libaud Pierre-Charles Boudot Jacques Seror 2:10.18
2015 Elliptique 4 Amelie Foulon André Fabre Rothschild Family 2:07.48
2016 Night Wish 6 Tony Piccone Sarah Steinberg Stall Salzburg 2:05.17
2017 Best Fouad 6 Christophe Soumillon Francois Rohaut LG Bloodstock 2:05.38
2018 Noor Al Hawa 5 Theo Bachelot Elias Mikhalides Hamad Al Attiyah 2:03.93
2019 Diamond Vendome 4 Christophe Soumillon Christophe Escuder Laurence Samoun & Georges Duca 2:05.29
2020 Spirit of Nelson 5 Cristian Demuro Jerome Reynier Jean-Claude Seroul 2:06.50
2021 Grand Glory 5 Cristian Demuro Gianluca Bietolini Albert Frassetto, John D'Amato & Mike Pietrangelo 2:07.02
2022 Riocorvo 6 Gérald Mossé Carlos Laffon-Parias Georgiana Cabrero 2:05.30
2023 One For Bobby 4 Christophe Soumillon Hughie Morrison Ann Marshall 2:04.33

Earlier winners

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  • 1875: Damoiseau
  • 1876: Mondaine
  • 1877: Giboulee
  • 1878: Le Marquis
  • 1879: Gift
  • 1880:
  • 1881: Marichette
  • 1882–85: no race
  • 1886: Prytanee
  • 1887: Ary
  • 1888: Bocage
  • 1889: Etretat
  • 1890: Belle Dame
  • 1891: Dacis
  • 1892: Le Cordouan
  • 1893:
  • 1894: Lanterne Magique
  • 1895: Feuillet
  • 1896:
  • 1897:
  • 1898: Machiavel
  • 1899:
  • 1900: Kerlaz
  • 1901: Lady Killer
  • 1902: Red Cedar
  • 1903: Alpha
  • 1904: Gouvernant
  • 1905: Rataplan
  • 1906: Eider
  • 1907: no race
  • 1908: Roi Herode
  • 1909: Chulo
  • 1910: Marsa
  • 1911: Dor
  • 1912: Predicateur
  • 1913: Tripolette
  • 1914–19: no race
  • 1920: Astypalee
  • 1921: Herlies
  • 1922: Harpocrate
  • 1923: Checkmate
  • 1924: Grillemont / Seclin 1
  • 1925: Momus
  • 1926: Alguazil / Javelot 1
  • 1927: Juveilin
  • 1928: Rovigo
  • 1929: Frolic 2
  • 1930: Guernanville
  • 1931: Hetre Pourpre
  • 1932: Thaouka
  • 1933: Casterari
  • 1934: Yakoba
  • 1935: Ortolan
  • 1936: Vatellor
  • 1937: Dadji
  • 1938: Eclair au Chocolat
  • 1939: Transtevere
  • 1940: no race
  • 1941: Champittet
  • 1942: Tambourin
  • 1943: Clodoche
  • 1944: no race
  • 1945: Achille
  • 1946:
  • 1947: Coaraze
  • 1948: Pegase
  • 1949: Astragram
  • 1950: Monticola
  • 1951: Ombrette
  • 1952: Amphis
  • 1953: Romantisme
  • 1954: Shaker
  • 1955: Bewitched
  • 1956: Cambremer
  • 1957: Jockero
  • 1958: Makalu
  • 1959: Wolfram
  • 1960: Shikani
  • 1961: Shikani
  • 1962: Karol
  • 1963: Signora
  • 1964: Amertume
  • 1965: Carvin
  • 1966: Cantilius
  • 1967: Dan Kano
  • 1968: Crozier
  • 1969: Manitoba
  • 1970:
  • 1971:
  • 1972: Royal Land
  • 1973: Sophora
  • 1974: Authi
  • 1975: Ambrellita
  • 1976: Diagramatic
  • 1977: Guadanini
  • 1978: Tempus Fugit

1 The 1924 and 1926 races were dead-heats and have joint winners.
2 Le Chatelet finished first in 1929, but he was disqualified for obstruction.

See also

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References

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* france-galop.comA Brief History: Grand Prix de Vichy-Auvergne.