The Prix Robert Papin is a Group 2 flat horse race in France which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Maisons-Laffitte over a distance of 1,100 metres (about 5½ furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July.

History

The event was established in 1892, and it was originally called the Omnium de Deux Ans. Its distance was initially set at 1,100 metres, and this was extended to 1,200 metres in 1903. From its launch until 1906 it was held on the first Sunday in August. During this period it usually attracted a large field – two-year-olds could not be raced in France before August 1. It reverted to 1,100 metres in 1907, and from this point juveniles could race earlier in the year. With prize money of 50,000 francs in 1911, the Omnium de Deux Ans was France's richest race for two-year-olds. It remained so until 1914, ahead of both the Prix Morny and the Grand Critérium. It was not run from 1915 to 1918 due to World War I.

The race was given its present title, the Prix Robert Papin, in 1928. This was in memory of Robert Papin (1848–1926), a founding member and later the president of the Société Sportive d'Encouragement. As a writer for horse racing magazines he used the name Robert de Lizy, and he was also known by this name when he became a racehorse owner. The distance of the Prix Robert Papin was increased to 1,200 metres in 1929.

The event was transferred away from Maisons-Laffitte twice during World War II. The 1940 running was contested at Auteuil over 1,400 metres, and it took place in late October. The race's regular length was cut to 1,100 metres in 1942, and two years later it was run at Longchamp over 1,000 metres. Its usual distance returned to 1,200 metres in 1946, and this was shortened back to 1,100 metres in 1963.

When the current system of race grading was introduced in 1971, the Prix Robert Papin was classed at the highest level, Group 1. The only post-war departure from Maisons-Laffitte came in 1977, when it was held at Evry. The race was relegated to Group 2 status in 1988.

Records

Leading jockey (7 wins):

• Roger Poincelet – Chesterfield (1946), Coronation (1948), Emperor (1949), Fiere (1955), Neptune (1957), Sly Pola (1959), High Bulk (1960)

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Leading trainer (9 wins):

• Charles Semblat – Ardan (1943), Nirgal (1945), Coronation (1948), Emperor (1949), Pharsale (1950), Auriban (1951), Pharel (1952), Cordova (1953), Fiere (1955)

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Leading owner (8 wins):

• Marcel Boussac – Ardan (1943), Nirgal (1945), Coronation (1948), Emperor (1949), Pharsale (1950), Auriban (1951), Pharel (1952), Cordova (1953)

Winners since 1979

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
1979	Choucri	Alain Lequeux	Maurice Zilber	Naji Nahas	1:05.7
1980	Irish Playboy	Alain Lequeux	Olivier Douieb	Sir Gordon White	1:05.4
1981	Maelstrom Lake	Georges Doleuze	E. Bartholomew	Jacques Feuillard	1:05.6
1982	Ma Biche	Freddy Head	Criquette Head	Ghislaine Head	1:05.3
1983	Masarika	Yves Saint-Martin	Alain de Royer-Dupré	HH Aga Khan IV	1:05.3
1984	Seven Springs	Gary W. Moore	John Fellows	Robin Scully	1:06.3
1985	Baiser Vole	Freddy Head	Criquette Head	Robert Sangster	1:05.5
1986	Balbonella	Yves Saint-Martin	François Rohaut	Maktoum Al Maktoum	1:05.8
1987	Balawaki	Gary W. Moore	Criquette Head	Ghislaine Head	1:07.7
1988	Philippi	Alfred Gibert	J. C. Cunnington	Countess Batthyany	1:05.2
1989	Ozone Friendly	Pat Eddery	Barry Hills	Bill Gredley	1:06.3
1990	Danseuse du Soir	Dominique Boeuf	Elie Lellouche	Daniel Wildenstein	1:07.4
1991	Arazi	Gérald Mossé	François Boutin	Allen E. Paulson	1:05.5
1992	Didyme	Gérald Mossé	Criquette Head	Jacques Wertheimer	1:04.5
1993	Psychobabble	Cash Asmussen	Criquette Head	Stavros Niarchos	1:06.8
1994	General Monash	Brent Thomson	Peter Chapple-Hyam	Robert Sangster	1:06.4
1995	Lucky Lionel	John Reid	Richard Hannon	Antonio Balzarini	1:06.1
1996	Ocean Ridge	Thierry Jarnet	Peter Chapple-Hyam	Robert Sangster	1:05.9
1997	Greenlander	Sylvain Guillot	Clive Brittain	Marwan Al Maktoum	1:04.9
1998	Black Amber	Cash Asmussen	Neville Callaghan	Tabor / Magnier	1:05.9
1999	Rossini	Michael Kinane	Aidan O'Brien	Tabor / Magnier	1:07.2
2000	Rolly Polly	Mirco Demuro	Bruno Grizzetti	Mack Ferrer	1:04.2
2001	Zipping	Davy Bonilla	Robert Collet	Richard C. Strauss	1:05.3
2002	Never a Doubt	Michael Hills	Barry Hills	D. M. James	1:05.6
2003	Much Faster	Thierry Thulliez	Pascal Bary	Ecurie J. L. Bouchard	1:07.3
2004	Divine Proportions	Christophe Lemaire	Pascal Bary	Niarchos Family	1:04.8
2005	New Girlfriend	Christophe Soumillon	Robert Collet	Richard C. Strauss	1:04.0
2006	Boccassini	Davy Bonilla	Miroslav Rulec	Stall Nik	1:04.5
2007	Natagora	Christophe Lemaire	Pascal Bary	Stefan Friborg	1:03.2
2008	Lui Rei	Dario Vargiu	Armando Renzoni	Scuderia Siba	1:06.1
2009	Special Duty	Stéphane Pasquier	Criquette Head-Maarek	Khalid Abdullah	1:04.4

Earlier winners

References

• Racing Post:
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• galop.courses-france.com:
  • 1892–1919, 1920–1949, 1950–1979, 1980–present

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

See also

• List of French flat horse races
• Recurring events established in 1892 – this race is included under its original title, Omnium de Deux Ans.