The Prix Matchem is a Listed flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at Maisons-Laffitte over a distance of 1,800 metres (1⅛ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in May or June.

Prix Matchem
Listed race
LocationMaisons-Laffitte
France
Inaugurated1931
Race typeFlat / Thoroughbred
Websitefrance-galop.com
Race information
Distance1,800 metres (1⅛ miles)[1]
SurfaceTurf
TrackStraight[1]
QualificationThree-year-old
colts and geldings
excluding Group winners[1]
Weight56 kg
Penalties
2 kg for Listed winners *
2 kg if Group placed *
* since January 1[1]
Purse€55,000 (2017)
1st: €27,500[1]
Prix Matchem
2024
Black, red chevrons on sleeves, red cap emerald Green, Red epaulettes Purple, yellow epaulets and armlets
Atlantic Coast Elbaz Zoum Zoum
Previous years
2023
Grey, pink epaulets, white sleeves, pink cap Royal blue Emerald green, pink epaulets, white sleeves, pink cap
Shalromy Art Of Magic Halfway Line
2022
Royal blue Emerald green, yellow sleeves, dark blue armlets, dark blue cap Royal blue, white sleeves, red chevrons, red cap
Tribalist American Kestrel Anthorus
2021
Royal blue Pink, black sleeves, pink seams, black cap, pink star Light Blue, Dark Blue hoop, armlets and cap
Egot Go Athletico Djo Francais
2020-2011
2020
Red, royal blue sleeves, black cap Emerald green, grey braces and sleeves, white cap Emerald Green, Purple epaulets and sleeves, striped cap
Alson Real Force Crew Dragon
2019
Blue, white seams, white sleeves, white cap Dark blue, beige hoop, quartered cap Royal blue
Matematica Milord's Song Firebird Song
2018
Gold, red spots, gold sleeves, cap halved horizontally Royal blue Blue, white seams, white sleeves, white cap
Spinning Memories Mythical Magic Spaday
2017
White, white sleeves, dark blue cap Royal blue White
Uni Franz Schubert Temple Church
2016
Red, white centre Grey, maroon stars, grey sleeves, maroon stars, grey cap, maroon star Turquoise, white chevron, white cap, turquoise stripe
Maximum Aurelius Fourioso Pagino
2015
emerald Green, Red epaulettes Green, pink epaulettes, white sleeves, pink cap Yellow, red cross of lorraine, yellow sleeves, yellow cap
Rickfield Inordinate Madrileno
2014
Yellow, Royal Blue cross belts and sleeves Royal blue, white epaulets, striped cap Pink, purple epaulets, sleeves and cap
Guiliani Nabbaash Zuri Chop
2013
Blue, white seams, white sleeves, white cap Yellow, white sleeves, yellow cap Royal blue, light green triple diamond, striped sleeves, light green cap
Pilote Onedargent Kapstadt
2012
Green, pink epaulets, white sleeves, pink cap Mauve, light blue cap Green, pink epaulets, white sleeves, pink cap
Mainsail Star On The Rocks Moonday Sun
2011
emerald Green, Red epaulettes Royal blue, white epaulets, striped cap Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star
Valiyr Durer Pine Creek
2010-2001
2010
White, black cross-belts, red cap Royal blue Turquoise, old gold sleeves, red cap
Mellon Martini Royal Revival Ustilago
2009
Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star Grey, maroon braces, striped sleeves and cap White and Yellow hoops, Yellow cap
Cavalryman Cirrus Des Aigles California Memory
2008
Emerald green and white check, striped sleeves, emerald green cap Blue, white seams, white sleeves, white cap Red, pale green cap
Blue Exit Celebrissime In Chambers
2007
Royal blue, yellow cap Dark blue, light blue cross sashes, striped sleeves, white cap Red, beige cap
Russian Desert Gopher Silverlord
2006
emerald Green, Red epaulettes Red, emerald green chevron, red sleeves, red cap, emerald green star Yellow, purple seams, yellow cap
Viva Macau Nordic Thunder Kilometre Neuf
2005
Green, pink epaulets, white sleeves, pink cap Black, beige sleeves and cap Blue, white seams, white sleeves, white cap
Kocab Athanor Seulement
2004
Grey, pink cap Blue, white seams, white sleeves, white cap Light blue, dark blue chevron, striped sleeves, dark blue cap
Valixir Red Tune Nooska Tivoli
2003
Grey, pink cap Red dark Green, Pink epaulettes and cap
Kiddy Sing Marshall Desert Swing
2002
Red and dark green hoops, dark green sleeves and cap Yellow, black braces, striped cap Maroon and yellow diamonds, maroon sleeves
Thattinger Los Roques Sharp Native
2001
Grey, pink cap White, red epaulets, royal blue armlets, red and white striped cap Red, green disc, striped cap
Vahorimix Green Jaro Silver Seraph
2000-1999
2000
Royal blue and red stripes, chevrons on sleeves, quartered cap Blue, white seams, white sleeves, white cap Red, emerald green chevron, red sleeves, red cap, emerald green star
Darjeeling Alyzig Zaragozo
1999
Grey, pink cap White, light blue stars, dark blue Cap White, large dark green spots, dark green sleeves
Val Royal Eighty Two Leave Us Leap
 

History

edit

The event was established in 1931, and it was originally held at Le Tremblay.[2] It was initially the second leg of a two-part series called the Prix Biennal Herod-Matchem. The first leg, for two-year-olds, was the Prix Herod. The two parts were named after Herod and Matchem, foundation sires in the 18th century.

The Prix Matchem was transferred to Évry in the 1970s. For a period it took place in April or May, and its regular distance was 1,800 metres. It was cut to 1,600 metres in 1986, and restored to its previous length in 1990.

The race was switched to Chantilly in 1997, and to Maisons-Laffitte the following year. It began a longer spell at Chantilly in 1999, and returned to Maisons-Laffitte in 2002. It was extended to 2,100 metres in 2005, and from this point it was staged in late May or early June.

The Prix Matchem was contested over 2,000 metres at Compiègne in 2006 and 2007. It was run over 1,800 metres at Maisons-Laffitte in 2008, and over 2,000 metres at Saint-Cloud from 2009 to 2011. It reverted to 1,800 metres at Maisons-Laffitte in 2012.

Records

edit

Leading jockey since 1979 (7 wins):

  • Olivier PeslierLe Balafre (1993), Martiniquais (1996), Val Royal (1999), Vahorimix (2001), Thattinger (2002), Pilote (2013), Matematica (2019)

Leading trainer since 1979 (13 wins):

  • André FabreKitwood (1992), Bobinski (1995), Martiniquais (1996), Visionary (1997), Val Royal (1999), Vahorimix (2001), Kiddy Sing (2003), Valixir (2004), Kocab (2005), Russian Desert (2007), Cavalryman (2009), Pilote (2013), Alson (2020)

Leading owner since 1979 (4 wins):

  • Jean-Luc LagardèreAlzao (1983), Visionary (1997), Val Royal (1999), Vahorimix (2001)
  • HH Aga Khan IV - Mourtazam (1981), Dilek (2006), Valiyr (2011), Rickfield (2015)

Winners since 1979

edit
Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time
1979 Fabulous Dancer Freddy Head Criquette Head Ghislaine Head 1:59.40
1980 Axius Jean-Luc Kessas J. M. de Choubersky Emmeline de Waldner
1981 Mourtazam Yves Saint-Martin François Mathet HH Aga Khan IV 1:59.10
1982 Bright Dick Yves Saint-Martin Joseph Audon I. B. S. Lewin
1983 Alzao Cash Asmussen François Boutin Jean-Luc Lagardère 2:01.00
1984 Greinton Cash Asmussen François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 1:53.60
1985 Baillamont Cash Asmussen François Boutin Stavros Niarchos
1986 Free Water Freddy Head François Boutin Ernst Wiget
1987 Don Mario Gary W. Moore Criquette Head Jacques Wertheimer
1988 Squill Guy Guignard Criquette Head Etti Plesch 1:36.96
1989 Chivalrous William Mongil Alain de Royer-Dupré Mrs Robert Bousquet
1990 Priolo Gérald Mossé François Boutin Ecurie Skymarc Farm 1:50.00
1991 Sillery Guy Guignard Criquette Head Ghislaine Head 1:58.09
1992 Kitwood Thierry Jarnet André Fabre Sheikh Mohammed 1:52.88
1993 Le Balafre Olivier Peslier Nicolas Clément Joseph de Lastours 1:56.86
1994 Dare and Go Olivier Doleuze Criquette Head Jacques Wertheimer 2:01.80
1995 Bobinski Thierry Jarnet André Fabre Bob McCreery 1:58.59
1996 Martiniquais Olivier Peslier André Fabre Daniel Wildenstein 1:51.27
1997 Visionary Thierry Jarnet André Fabre Jean-Luc Lagardère 1:52.30
1998 Frozen Groom Olivier Doleuze Criquette Head Wertheimer et Frère 2:04.70
1999 Val Royal Olivier Peslier André Fabre Jean-Luc Lagardère 1:53.10
2000 Darjeeling Dominique Boeuf Carlos Laffon-Parias Javier Gispert 1:59.60
2001 Vahorimix Olivier Peslier André Fabre Jean-Luc Lagardère 2:03.30
2002 Thattinger Olivier Peslier Richard Chotard Guy-Roger Petit 1:54.10
2003 Kiddy Sing Christophe Soumillon André Fabre Lagardère Family 1:56.90
2004 Valixir Gary Stevens André Fabre Lagardère Family 1:55.80
2005 Kocab Christophe Soumillon André Fabre Khalid Abdullah 2:31.30
2006 Dilek [a] Christophe Soumillon Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 2:09.13
2007 Russian Desert Stéphane Pasquier André Fabre Edouard de Rothschild 2:06.99
2008 Blue Exit Christophe Lemaire Jean-Claude Rouget Allen / Tepper / Forgeard 1:51.70
2009 Cavalryman Maxime Guyon André Fabre Sheikh Mohammed 2:08.60
2010 Mellon Martini Gérald Mossé Alain de Royer-Dupré Almeida Camargo / Simon 2:08.20
2011 Valiyr Christophe Lemaire Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 2:13.10
2012 Mainsail Christophe Soumillon Pascal Bary Khalid Abdullah 1:51.42
2013 Pilote Olivier Peslier André Fabre Wertheimer et Frère 1:52.90
2014 Guiliani Maxime Guyon Jean-Pierre Carvalho Stall Ullmann 2:01.90
2015 Rickfield Christophe Soumillon Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 1:54.10
2016 Maximum Aurelius Pierre-Charles Boudot Francis-Henri Graffard Craig Mather 1:59.63
2017 Uni Maxime Guyon Fabrice Chappet Haras d'Etreham & S Kumin 1:58.00
2018 Spinning Memories Christophe Soumillon Pascal Bary Sutong Pan Racing 1:26.76
2019 Matematica Olivier Peslier Carlos Laffon-Parias Wertheimer et Frère 1:29.76
2020 Alson Pierre-Charles Boudot André Fabre Gestut Schlenderhan 1:30.52
  1. ^ The 2006 winner Dilek was later exported to Hong Kong and renamed Viva Macau

Earlier winners

edit
  • 1931: Pulcherrimus
  • 1932: Laeken
  • 1933: Scolopax
  • 1934: Antiochus
  • 1935: Ipe
  • 1936: Petit Jean
  • 1937: Clairvoyant
  • 1938: Castel Fusano
  • 1939: Etalon Or
  • 1947: Pearl Diver
  • 1962: Violon d'Ingres
  • 1963: Montsoreau
  • 1974: Caracolero
  • 1976: Exceller
  • 1978: Dom Racine

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e "Prix Matchem". The French Black Type. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Les Courses". Le Petit Journal (in French). 30 April 1931. Retrieved 27 August 2012.