Prix Royal-Oak


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The Prix Royal-Oak is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 3,100 metres (about 1 mile and 7½ furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late October.

It is France's equivalent of the St. Leger Stakes, a famous race in England.

History
The event was established in 1861, and it was initially called the Grand Prix du Prince Impérial. It was originally restricted to three-year-olds, and was part of a series of races based on the English Classic system. Its original distance was 3,200 metres.

The race was renamed the Prix Royal-Oak and shortened to 3,000 metres in 1869. It was named after Royal Oak (foaled 1823), a key stallion in the establishment of thoroughbred breeding in France. Due to the Franco-Prussian War, the race was not run in 1870 and 1871.

The Prix Royal-Oak was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1914 to 1918. It was cancelled twice during World War II, in 1939 and 1940. It was staged at Le Tremblay in 1943 and 1944.

The event was extended to 3,100 metres in 1964. The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Prix Royal-Oak was classed at the highest level, Group 1. For a period it was held in mid-September. It was switched to late October in 1977.

Formerly France's equivalent of the St Leger Stakes in England, the Prix Royal-Oak was opened to horses aged four or older in 1979 and to geldings in 1986. Since then the race has dropped significantly in prestige.

Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
 * Amilynx – 1999, 2000
 * Westerner – 2003, 2004
 * Tac De Boistron – 2013, 2014
 * Vazirabad – 2015, 2016

Leading jockey (6 wins):
 * Freddy Head – Dhaudevi (1968), Bourbon (1971), Busiris (1974), Gold River (1980), Agent Double (1984), Top Sunrise (1989)

Leading trainer (7 wins):
 * François Mathet – Vamour (1959), Match (1961), Relko (1963), Reliance (1965), Sassafras (1970), Henri le Balafre (1975), Exceller (1976)
 * André Fabre – Star Lift (1988), Top Sunrise (1989), Raintrap (1993), Sunshack (1995), Amilynx (1999, 2000), Be Fabulous (2011)

Leading owner (6 wins):
 * Frédéric de Lagrange – Palestro (1861), Fille de l'Air (1864), Gladiateur (1865), Nelusco (1868), Inval (1878), Zut (1879)

Earlier winners

 * 1861: Palestro
 * 1862: Souvenir
 * 1863: La Toucques
 * 1864: Fille de l'Air
 * 1865: Gladiateur
 * 1866: Etoile Filante
 * 1867: Patricien
 * 1868: Nelusco
 * 1869: Clotho
 * 1870–71: no race
 * 1872: Barbillon
 * 1873: Boiard
 * 1874: Mignonette
 * 1875: Perplexe
 * 1876: Kilt
 * 1877: Jongleur
 * 1878: Inval
 * 1879: Zut
 * 1880: Beauminet
 * 1881: Perplexite
 * 1882: Clio
 * 1883: Stockholm
 * 1884: Archiduc
 * 1885: Escarboucle
 * 1886: Gamin
 * 1887: Bavarde
 * 1888: Galaor
 * 1889: Pourtant
 * 1890: Alicante
 * 1891: Berenger
 * 1892: Chene Royal
 * 1893: Ramleh
 * 1894: Gouvernail
 * 1895: Bombon
 * 1896: Champaubert
 * 1897: Chambertin
 * 1898: Le Roi Soleil
 * 1899: Perth
 * 1900: Ivoire
 * 1901: Jacobite
 * 1902: Fer
 * 1903: Torquato Tasso
 * 1904: Macdonald II
 * 1905: Clyde
 * 1906: Maintenon
 * 1907: Anemone
 * 1908: Medeah
 * 1909: Aveu
 * 1910: Reinhart
 * 1911: Combourg
 * 1912: Gorgorito
 * 1913: Bruleur
 * 1914–18: no race
 * 1919: Stearine
 * 1920: Embry
 * 1921: Ksar
 * 1922: Keror
 * 1923: Filibert de Savoie
 * 1924: Uganda
 * 1925: Priori
 * 1926: Biribi
 * 1927: Fiterari
 * 1928: Cacao
 * 1929: Calandria
 * 1930: Taicoun
 * 1931: Deiri
 * 1932: Laeken
 * 1933: Jumbo
 * 1934: Brantôme
 * 1935: Bokbul
 * 1936: Fantastic
 * 1937: Victrix
 * 1938: Eclair au Chocolat
 * 1939–40: no race
 * 1941: Le Pacha
 * 1942: Tifinar
 * 1943: Verso II
 * 1944: Samaritain
 * 1945: Caracalla
 * 1946: Souverain
 * 1947: Tourment
 * 1948: Spooney
 * 1949: Ciel Etoile
 * 1950: Pan
 * 1951: Stymphale
 * 1952: Feu du Diable
 * 1953: Buisson d'Or
 * 1954: Sica Boy
 * 1955: Macip
 * 1956: Arabian
 * 1957: Scot
 * 1958: Wallaby
 * 1959: Vamour
 * 1960: Puissant Chef
 * 1961: Match
 * 1962: Sicilian Prince
 * 1963: Relko
 * 1964: Barbieri
 * 1965: Reliance
 * 1966: Vasco de Gama
 * 1967: Samos
 * 1968: Dhaudevi