Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte


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The Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of 1,200 metres (about 6 furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.

History
The event was established in 1891 at Maisons-Laffitte, and it was originally held in September. It served as a trial for the Grand Critérium in mid-October. It was initially contested over 1,400 metres, and was shortened to 1,200 metres in 1897.

The Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1914 to 1919. It was extended to 1,500 metres in 1922.

The race was cancelled twice during World War II, in 1939 and 1940. It was staged at Longchamp in 1941 and 1942, and at Le Tremblay over 1,400 metres in 1944. It took place at Longchamp again in 1945, and was abandoned in 1948. Its regular distance was cut to 1,400 metres in 1952.

The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte was classed at Group 2 level. It was moved to late October or early November in 1981.

The event was contested at Évry over 1,300 metres in 1995 and 1996. During this period it was called the Critérium des Deux Ans. It reverted to 1,400 metres in 1997, and started its present spell over 1,200 metres in 2001. The race was moved to mid-October in 2015 as part of a series of changes to autumn races for two-year-olds. Maisons-Laffitte closed at the end of the 2019 season and the race has been run at Chantilly since 2020.

Records
Leading jockey (4 wins):
 * Freddy Head – Rimesault (1968), Rose Laurel (1972), Vallee des Fleurs (1977), Rapide Pied (1984)
 * Philippe Paquet – Crowned Music (1978), Viteric (1979), Cresta Rider (1980), Zino (1981)
 * Christophe Soumillon – Zinziberine (2002), Whipper (2003), Captain Marvelous (2006), Kiram (2013)

Leading trainer (9 wins):
 * François Boutin – Speedy Dakota (1974), Crowned Music (1978), Viteric (1979), Cresta Rider (1980), Zino (1981), L'Emigrant (1982), Procida (1983), Corviglia (1988), Ganges (1990)

Leading owner (9 wins):
 * Marcel Boussac – Ramus (1921), Nosca (1941), Sandjar (1946), Djeddah (1947), Pharad (1951), Albanilla (1953), Janiari (1955), Floriana (1958), Perello (1976)

Earlier winners

 * 1891: Idalie
 * 1892: Commandeur
 * 1893: L'Herault
 * 1894: Cherbourg
 * 1895: Champignol
 * 1896: Fils de Roi
 * 1897: Artisan
 * 1898: Holocauste
 * 1899: Ramadan
 * 1900: Butor
 * 1901: Le Mandinet
 * 1902: Hebron
 * 1903: French Fox
 * 1904: Val d'Or
 * 1905: Prestige
 * 1906: Peroraison
 * 1907: Northeast
 * 1908: Azalee
 * 1909: Nuage
 * 1910: Nectarine
 * 1911: Montrose
 * 1912: Coupesarte
 * 1913: Listman
 * 1914–19: no race
 * 1920: Cortland
 * 1921: Ramus
 * 1922: Épinard
 * 1923: Carnation
 * 1924: Melisande
 * 1925: Apelle
 * 1926: Fenimore Cooper 1
 * 1927: Mourad
 * 1928: Florio
 * 1929: Le Val d'Enfer
 * 1930: Indus
 * 1931: Present
 * 1932: Le Cacique
 * 1933: Boucan
 * 1934: Clain
 * 1935: Alejo
 * 1936: May Wong
 * 1937: Blue Star
 * 1938: Birikil
 * 1939–40: no race
 * 1941: Nosca
 * 1942: Pensbury
 * 1943: Turquoise
 * 1944:
 * 1945: Tourmente
 * 1946: Sandjar
 * 1947: Djeddah
 * 1948: no race
 * 1949: Fort Napoleon
 * 1950: Le Tyrol
 * 1951: Pharad
 * 1952: Fort de France
 * 1953: Albanilla
 * 1954: Soleil Royal
 * 1955: Janiari
 * 1956: Achaz
 * 1957: Bella Paola
 * 1958: Floriana
 * 1959: Djebel Traffic
 * 1960: Star
 * 1961: Lebon M L
 * 1962: Neptune's Doll
 * 1963: Soleil d'Or
 * 1964: Sea Bird
 * 1965: Hauban
 * 1966: Gazala
 * 1967: Pola Bella
 * 1968: Rimesault
 * 1969: Faraway Son
 * 1970: Round Top
 * 1971: Steel Pulse
 * 1972: Rose Laurel
 * 1973: Wittgenstein
 * 1974: Speedy Dakota
 * 1975: Earth Spirit
 * 1976: Perello
 * 1977: Vallee des Fleurs 2

1 Jopp finished first in 1926, but was relegated to second place following a stewards' inquiry. 2 Cosmopolitan was first in 1977, but he was placed second after a stewards' inquiry.