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

History

The event was established in 1891, and it was originally held in September. It served as a trial for the Grand Critérium, which used to take place in mid October. It was initially contested over 1,400 metres, but it was cut to 1,200 metres in 1897. It was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1914 to 1919. Its distance was extended to 1,500 metres in 1922.

The Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte was cancelled twice during World War II, in 1939 and 1940. It was then switched temporarily to Longchamp (1941–42, 1945) and Le Tremblay (1944), and at the latter venue it was contested over 1,400 metres. The race was abandoned in 1948, and its regular length was cut to 1,400 metres in 1952.

When the present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, the Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte was classed at Group 2 level. It was moved to its current slot, late October or early November, in 1981. It was run at Evry over 1,300 metres in 1995 and 1996, and during this period it was called the Critérium des Deux Ans. Its distance reverted to 1,400 metres in 1997, and it was cut to 1,200 metres in 2001.

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)

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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)

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Leading owner (9 wins):

• Marcel Boussac – Ramus (1921), Nosca (1941), Sandjar (1946), Djeddah (1947), Pharad (1951), Albanilla (1953), Janiari (1955), Floriana (1958), Perello (1976)

Winners since 1978

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
1978	Crowned Music	Philippe Paquet	François Boutin	Mrs Walter Haefner
1979	Viteric	Philippe Paquet	François Boutin	Walter Haefner
1980	Cresta Rider	Philippe Paquet	François Boutin	Stavros Niarchos
1981	Zino	Philippe Paquet	François Boutin	Gerry Oldham
1982	L'Emigrant	Cash Asmussen	François Boutin	Stavros Niarchos
1983	Procida	Cash Asmussen	François Boutin	Stavros Niarchos
1984	Rapide Pied	Freddy Head	Criquette Head	Maktoum Al Maktoum
1985	Lead on Time	Alain Badel	Olivier Douieb	Maktoum Al Maktoum
1986	Grecian Urn	Alain Lequeux	David Smaga	Sir Michael Sobell
1987	Bitooh	Gary W. Moore	Criquette Head	Maktoum Al Maktoum	1:31.90
1988	Corviglia	Eric Saint-Martin	François Boutin	Jerome Brody	1:30.70
1989	Septieme Ciel	Guy Guignard	Criquette Head	John T. L. Jones, Jr.	1:24.30
1990	Ganges	Eric Legrix	François Boutin	Allen E. Paulson	1:25.90
1991	Cardoun	Alain Lequeux	Elie Lellouche	Edgard Zorbibe	1:29.70
1992	Kadounor	Olivier Doleuze	Jean Laumain	Henri Rabatel	1:35.40
1993	Signe Divin	Thierry Jarnet	André Fabre	Paul de Moussac	1:28.50
1994	Bishop of Cashel	David Harrison	James Fanshawe	Moncrisp Ltd	1:32.20
1995	Titus Livius	Cash Asmussen	Jonathan Pease	Stavros Niarchos	1:19.07
1996	Deadly Dudley	Olivier Peslier	Richard Hannon	Lucayan Stud	1:20.11
1997	Roi Gironde	Olivier Peslier	Criquette Head	Peter Savill	1:27.50
1998	Moiava	Olivier Doleuze	Criquette Head	Wertheimer et Frère	1:31.90
1999	Touch of the Blues	Dominique Boeuf	Carlos Laffon-Parias	Maktoum Al Maktoum	1:29.80
2000	Amiwain	Olivier Peslier	André Fabre	Jean-Luc Lagardère	1:29.40
2001	Captain Rio	Thierry Jarnet	Richard Whitaker	David Samuel	1:14.30
2002	Zinziberine	Christophe Soumillon	André Fabre	Mrs André Fabre	1:12.70
2003	Whipper	Christophe Soumillon	Robert Collet	Richard C. Strauss	1:14.70
2004	Centifolia	Ioritz Mendizabal	Robert Collet	Steeve Berland	1:12.00
2005	Balthazaar's Gift	Jamie Spencer	Kevin Ryan	Ryder Racing Ltd	1:10.10
2006	Captain Marvelous	Christophe Soumillon	Barry Hills	Ronald Arculli	1:11.60
2007	Pomellato	Andrasch Starke	Peter Schiergen	Gestüt Ittlingen	1:13.60
2008	Smooth Operator	Andreas Helfenbein	Mario Hofer	Stall Jenny	1:15.30
2009	Our Jonathan	Jamie Spencer	Kevin Ryan	Marwan Koukash	1:19.70

 The 1995 and 1996 runnings took place at Evry.

Earlier winners

* Jopp finished first in 1926, but was relegated to second place following a Stewards' Inquiry.
* Cosmopolitan was first in 1977, but he was placed second after a Stewards' Inquiry.

References

• Racing Post:
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• galop.courses-france.com:
  • 1891–1919, 1920–1949, 1950–1979, 1980–present

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• france-galop.com – A Brief History: Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte.
• horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte (2009).
• pedigreequery.com – Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte – Maisons-Laffitte.

See also

• List of French flat horse races