Prix Fille de l'Air
The Prix Fille de l'Air is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Toulouse over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in November.
| Group 3 race | |
| Location | Toulouse Racecourse Toulouse, France |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1902 |
| Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
| Website | france-galop.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2,100 metres (1m 2½f) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Three-years-old and up fillies and mares exc. G2 winners this or last year |
| Weight | 54½ kg (3yo); 56 kg (4yo+) Penalties 3 kg for Group 3 winners * * since January 1 |
| Purse | €80,000 (2016) 1st: €40,000 |
History
The event is named after Fille de l'Air, a successful French-trained filly in the 1860s. It was established in 1902, and was originally held at Maisons-Laffitte. It was initially contested over 2,400 metres, and was extended to 2,600 metres in 1906. It reverted to its former length in 1913, and was cut to 2,000 metres the following year.
Due to World War I, the race was abandoned from 1915 to 1919. It was transferred to Saint-Cloud in 1921, and restored to 2,400 metres in 1924. It was shortened to 2,100 metres in 1929.
The Prix Fille de l'Air was cancelled twice during World War II, in 1940 and 1941. It was staged at Longchamp in 1942, Le Tremblay in 1943 and Auteuil in 1944. It was held at Longchamp again in 1945, and returned to Saint-Cloud in 1946.
The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Prix Fille de l'Air was classed at Group 3 level. For a period it took place in June.
The race was moved to late October in 1990, and to November in 1991. It took place at Évry in 1995 and 1996. It was transferred to Toulouse in 1997, and since then it has been usually run on the French public holiday of Armistice Day.
Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
- Punta Gorda – 1906, 1907
- Ahohoney – 1984, 1985
Leading jockey (4 wins):
- Alfred Gibert – Kalinia (1969), Miss Dan (1970), Sybarite (1973), Irena (1975)
Leading trainer (4 wins):
- Charles Defeyer – Quoi (1924), Larsy (1928), Rollybuchy (1929), Mascotte (1942)
- François Boutin – Satu (1968), Snow Day (1981), Liastra (1986), Mystery Rays (1988)
- André Fabre – Savoureuse Lady (1990), Dance Dress (2002), Walkamia (2003), Tashelka (2007)
Leading owner (4 wins):
- Marcel Boussac – Pharelle (1945), Caraida (1955), Arbela (1961), Artania (1963)
Winners since 1979
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Tintagel | 4 | Henri Samani | J. R. Lyon | Marietta Fox-Pitt | 2:18.20 |
| 1980 | Detroit | 3 | Alain Lequeux | Olivier Douieb | Robert Sangster | 2:12.70 |
| 1981 | Snow Day | 3 | Philippe Paquet | François Boutin | Robert Sangster | 2:13.10 |
| 1982 | Sham's Princess | 3 | Alain Lequeux | Olivier Douieb | Leslie Combs II | 2:12.00 |
| 1983 | Darine | 5 | Yves Saint-Martin | Robert Collet | Turki Saud | 2:15.80 |
| 1984 | Ahohoney | 3 | Maurice Philipperon | J. C. Cunnington | Countess Batthyany | 2:11.40 |
| 1985 | Ahohoney | 4 | Alain Badel | J. C. Cunnington | Countess Batthyany | 2:13.00 |
| 1986 | Liastra | 3 | Cash Asmussen | François Boutin | Peter Goulandris | |
| 1987 | Khariyda | 3 | Yves Saint-Martin | Alain de Royer-Dupré | HH Aga Khan IV | 2:17.00 |
| 1988 | Mystery Rays | 3 | Gérald Mossé | François Boutin | Stavros Niarchos | 2:07.40 |
| 1989 | Solveig | 3 | Guy Guignard | Criquette Head | Jacques Wertheimer | 2:20.50 |
| 1990 | Savoureuse Lady | 3 | Cash Asmussen | André Fabre | Paul de Moussac | 2:23.10 |
| 1991 | Fabulous Hostess | 3 | Guy Guignard | Criquette Head | Jacques Wertheimer | 2:26.20 |
| 1992 | Halesia | 3 | Dominique Boeuf | Élie Lellouche | Enrique Sarasola | 2:34.00 |
| 1993 | Royale Chantou | 3 | Cash Asmussen | John Hammond | Sultan Al Kabeer | 2:24.20 |
| 1994 | Hollywood Dream | 3 | John Reid | Uwe Ostmann | Gestüt Ittlingen | 2:26.60 |
| 1995 | Marie de Ken | 3 | Sylvain Guillot | Alain de Royer-Dupré | Ecurie Bader | 2:16.82 |
| 1996 | Maroussie | 3 | Jean-Michel Breux | Nicolas Clément | Jean-François Malle | 2:20.45 |
| 1997 | Yvecrique | 3 | Thierry Gillet | Jean-Pierre Gauvin | Pierrette Fargier | 2:21.90 |
| 1998 | Just in Fun | 4 | Andre Best | Hans Blume | Gestüt Sommerberg | 2:17.10 |
| 1999 | Neptune's Bride | 3 | Sylvain Guillot | Henri-Alex Pantall | Sheikh Mohammed | 2:08.60 |
| 2000 | Aiglonne | 3 | Goulven Toupel | Henri-Alex Pantall | Mrs Paul de Moussac | 2:11.80 |
| 2001 | Goncharova | 3 | Kieren Fallon | Sir Michael Stoute | Magnier / Tabor | 2:11.10 |
| 2002 | Dance Dress | 3 | Christophe Soumillon | André Fabre | Khalid Abdullah | 2:22.37 |
| 2003 | Walkamia | 3 | Christophe Soumillon | André Fabre | Lagardère Family | 2:10.60 |
| 2004 | Linda Regina | 3 | Ronan Thomas | Criquette Head-Maarek | G. Borges Torrealba | 2:22.94 |
| 2005 | Antioquia | 4 | Miguel Blancpain | Carlos Laffon-Parias | Felipe Hinojosa | 2:09.78 |
| 2006 | Afaf | 4 | Thierry Jarnet | Mikel Delzangles | Zakaria Hakam | 2:13.79 |
| 2007 | Tashelka | 3 | Johan Victoire | André Fabre | Sheikh Mohammed | 2:10.74 |
| 2008 | La Boum | 5 | Thierry Jarnet | Robert Collet | Emmanuel Trussardi | 2:17.52 |
| 2009 | Synergy | 4 | Olivier Peslier | Yan Durepaire | De La Fuente Stud | 2:22.52 |
| 2010 | Ma Preference | 4 | Stéphane Pasquier | François Rohaut | Patrick Chedeville | 2:22.43 |
| 2011 | Skia | 4 | Anthony Crastus | Carlos Laffon-Parias | Leonidas Marinopoulos | 2:11.83 |
| 2012 | Casaca | 6 | Jeremy Crocquevieille | Juan Miguel Osorio | Africa Cuadra-Lores | 2:15.60 |
| 2013 | Frine | 3 | Jeremy Crocquevieille | Juan Miguel Osorio | Duke of Alburquerque | 2:19.49 |
| 2014 | Gaga A | 5 | Alexis Badel | David Smaga | Benjamin Steinbruch | 2:13.70 |
| 2015 | Taniya | 3 | Alexis Badel | Jean-Claude Rouget | HH Aga Khan | 2:13.81 |
| 2016 | Powder Snow | 3 | Aurelien Lemaitre | Henri-Alex Pantall | Godolphin | 2:15.25 |
| 2017 | Haggle | 4 | Pierre-Charles Boudot | Henri-François Devin | Mme R Hillen | 2:11.38 |
| 2018 | Gaining | 4 | Vincent Cheminaud | Henri-François Devin | Khalid Abdullah | 2:16.00 |
| 2019 | Ambition | 3 | Mickael Barzalona | Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte | James Rowsell & Steve Ashley | 2:18.90 |
| 2020 | Directa | 3 | Theo Bachelot | Joel Boisnard | Maryvonne Blot | 2:11.70 |
Earlier winners
- 1902: Reine des Fleurs
- 1903: La Camargo
- 1904: Sofia
- 1905: Luzerne
- 1906: Punta Gorda
- 1907: Punta Gorda
- 1908: Mafia II
- 1909: Messaouda
- 1910: Ma Cherie
- 1911: Basse Pointe
- 1912: Tripolette
- 1913: Ardeche
- 1914: Rivista
- 1915–19: no race
- 1920: Maskara
- 1921: Herlies
- 1922: Finetta
- 1923: Solange
- 1924: Quoi
- 1925: Lotus Lily
- 1926: Briseis
- 1927: La Desirade
- 1928: Larsy
- 1929: Rollybuchy
- 1930: Merveille
- 1931: Halston
- 1932: Sans Rancune
- 1933: Arabia
- 1934: Anatolie
- 1935: Blue Bell
- 1936: Pamina
- 1937: Cosquilla
- 1938: Adieu
- 1939: Pereire
- 1940–41: no race
- 1942: Mascotte
- 1943: Lady Cast
- 1944: Orthez
- 1945: Pharelle
- 1946: Plouvien
- 1947: Fair Eire
- 1948: Chez Elle
- 1949:
- 1950:
- 1951: Hero
- 1952:
- 1953: Radio
- 1954: Reine d'Atout
- 1955: Caraida
- 1956: Resabiada
- 1957: Fussy
- 1958: Denisy
- 1959: Ornifle
- 1960: Rivesarthe
- 1961: Arbela
- 1962: Nebalie
- 1963: Artania
- 1964: Arnica
- 1965: Dame de la Cour
- 1966: Nursery Song
- 1967: Cranberry Sauce
- 1968: Satu
- 1969: Kalinia
- 1970: Miss Dan
- 1971: Azella
- 1972: Northern Tavern
- 1973: Sybarite
- 1974: Premiere Harde
- 1975: Irena
- 1976: Gramy
- 1977: Silver Bells
- 1978: Twilight Hour
See also
References
- France Galop / Racing Post:
- france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix Fille de l'Air.
- galopp-sieger.de – Prix Fille de l'Air.
- horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix Fille de l'Air (2016).
- pedigreequery.com – Prix Fille de l'Air – Toulouse.