Premio Regina Elena

The Premio Regina Elena is a Group 3 flat horse race in Italy open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at Capannelle in April or May.

It is Italy's equivalent of the 1000 Guineas, a famous race in England.

History
The event is named after Elena of Montenegro, who became Queen of Italy when her husband acceded to the throne in 1900. It was established in 1907, and the inaugural running was won by Madree.

The title of the race was shortened to Premio Elena in 1943. It reverted to its original name in 1965.

For a period the Premio Regina Elena held Group 1 status. It was downgraded to Group 2 level in 1988, and to Group 3 in 2007.

Several winners of the Premio Regina Elena have gone on to win the Oaks d'Italia. The first was Makufa in 1912, and the most recent was Cherry Collect in 2012.

The race is currently run on the same day as its colts' counterpart, the Premio Parioli.

Records
Leading jockey (6 wins):
 * Enrico Camici – Astolfina (1948), Giambellina (1954), Theodorica (1955), Angela Rucellai (1957), Rossellina (1960), Tadolina (1965)
 * Sergio Fancera – Anticlea (1963), Brioche (1968), Azzurrina (1978), Martin's Girl (1979), Right Bank (1983), Miss Gris (1985)

Leading trainer since 1985 (6 wins):
 * Bruno Grizzetti – Shenck (1999), Xua (2000), Sadowa (2002), Rumba Loca (2004), Lokaloka (2007), Stay Alive (2011)

Leading owner (16 wins): (includes part ownership)
 * Federico Tesio – Veronesa (1908), Angelica Kauffmann (1909), Claudia Lorena (1915), Gianpietrina (1917), Duccia di Buoninsegna (1923), Gherarda delle Notti (1926), Delleana (1928), Nannoccia (1930), Nogara (1931), Jacopa del Sellaio (1932), Dossa Dossi (1933), Bernina (1934), Dagherotipia (1939), Tokamura (1943), Astolfina (1948), Giambellina (1954)

Earlier winners

 * 1907: Madree
 * 1908: Veronesa
 * 1909: Angelica Kauffmann
 * 1910: La Matchiche
 * 1911: Androclea
 * 1912: Makufa
 * 1913: Sigma
 * 1914: Ten
 * 1915: Claudia Lorena
 * 1916: Vanetta
 * 1917: Gianpietrina
 * 1918: Ardea *
 * 1919: Alcimaca
 * 1920: Alciope
 * 1921: Ellera
 * 1922: Fraschetta
 * 1923: Duccia di Buoninsegna
 * 1924: Pomella
 * 1925: Bilitis
 * 1926: Gherarda delle Notti
 * 1927: Maja
 * 1928: Delleana
 * 1929: Arcibella
 * 1930: Nannoccia
 * 1931: Nogara
 * 1932: Jacopa del Sellaio
 * 1933: Dossa Dossi
 * 1934: Bernina
 * 1935: Colibri
 * 1936: Archidamia
 * 1937: Amerina
 * 1938: Brunellesca
 * 1939: Dagherotipia
 * 1940: Peruviana
 * 1941: Beatrice
 * 1942: Venere
 * 1943: Tokamura
 * 1944: Dalmazia *
 * 1945: no race
 * 1946: Odola
 * 1947: Zambra
 * 1948: Astolfina
 * 1949: Meda
 * 1950: Saccaroa
 * 1951: Baronessa
 * 1952: Sannita
 * 1953: Mezzegra
 * 1954: Giambellina
 * 1955: Theodorica
 * 1956: Moleca
 * 1957: Angela Rucellai
 * 1958: Algaiola
 * 1959: Cesaproba
 * 1960: Rossellina
 * 1961: Ninabella
 * 1962: Alibella
 * 1963: Anticlea
 * 1964: Bronzina
 * 1965: Tadolina
 * 1966: Alhambra
 * 1967: Dolina
 * 1968: Brioche
 * 1969: Volsini
 * 1970: Alea
 * 1971: Adelaide Adams
 * 1972: Kerkenna
 * 1973: La Zanzara
 * 1974: Grande Nube
 * 1975: Synthesis
 * 1976: Dir el Gobi
 * 1977: Roman Blue
 * 1978: Azzurrina
 * 1979: Martin's Girl
 * 1980: Tibalda
 * 1981: Val d'Erica
 * 1982: Rosananti
 * 1983: Right Bank
 * 1984: Honey

* The race took place at Milan in 1918 and 1944.