Gros-Chêne History: A French dash

June, Chantilly

Prix du Gros-Chêne

Group 2, 3-year-olds and above, 1,000m/5f, €130,000

Created in 1857

Last winner: Ponntos (h6 IRE by Power ex Blessing Box, by Bahamian Bounty), owned by Eva Nieslanikova, bred by L. Butler, Churchtown House Stud, trained by Miroslav Nieslanik, ridden by Mickaël Barzalona.

Record-time:  55''2 by Kind Music in 1982.

The race will be run in 2025 for the 163rd time

The 2024 edition

Sunday, June 2, 2024, Chantilly Racecourse (Oise). – Impressive over the straight 5 furlongs at ParisLongchamp recently in the €80,000 Prix de Saint-Georges (Gr3), the Czech speedster confirmed his prowess over the same distance at Chantilly in the €130,000 Prix du Gros-Chêne (Gr2), once again leading from start to finish. Representing Eva Nislanikova, he surged forward to fend off the attack from the French filly Mgheera (Zoustar), ultimately winning by 2.5 lengths, with Pradaro (Penny’s Picnic), a recent handicap winner over this distance at Longchamp, finishing third.

Once again ridden by Mickaël Barzalona, the 6-year-old horse secured his first Group 2 win and the 9th victory of his career, which began in the Czech Republic and has taken him to Germany, Italy, France, Slovakia, Dubai, England, and Abu Dhabi. He has only won beyond 5 furlongs within the boundaries of the former Czechoslovakia and Italy. A two-time winner of the "Saint-Georges" at Longchamp, he was thought to prefer the flat straight of Bois de Boulogne, but the course at Chantilly did not hinder him this time.

Ponntos was sold as a foal for €2,200 at Goffs in Ireland, then for £6,800 the following year at Tattersalls. His younger brother by Zoffany fetched £11,000 a year later as a yearling at Tattersalls. Their dam, Blessing Box (Bahamian Bounty), is a full sister to the talented Bounty Box (Bahamian Bounty), a dual-listed winner of over 6f in Great Britain.

History

This race was run for the first time on 17 May 1857 at Chantilly, on the same day as the Prix de Diane, and was won by Brassia – a 3-year-old filly belonging to Baron Eugène Daru. The latter was awarded 2,200 French Francs in prize money, whereas the Comte de Lagrange, owner of the Prix de Diane winner Mademoiselle de Chantilly received the heftier sum of 7,000F. At that point in time, races tended to carry the name of a place, their location or their characteristics. It was only a little later on that naming races after celebrities or famous horses became widespread. In this way, the “Gros Chêne” (Great Oak) referred to in the race name is none other than an imposing tree that sat in the grounds of the hippodrome at Chantilly.

Around the time of its inception, the race was something of an oddity on the French racing scene. This was down to its initial format as a 4-furlong sprint race, a distance extended to 5 furlongs in 1881. It has stayed that way ever since except on three occasions: the 1919 and 1920 races were over 5½ furlongs at Longchamp while the 1944 event was held over 4½ furlongs at Auteuil. In fact, the Prix du Gros Chêne was switched to Longchamp in 1919 and 1920 and from 1946-56; to Maisons-Lafitte in 1941-43 and 1945; and to Auteuil in 1944. War prevented the Prix du Gros Chêne being held in 1871, from 1915-18 and in 1940. In 2020, it was moved to Deauville because racing was still prohibited in the Paris region due to the health crisis.

The Prix du Gros Chêne is a very specialised affair, and therefore it should come as no surprise to find that several horses have taken the prize on more than one occasion. Such is the nature of the race that a single horse was able to set a French record of five consecutive wins. This magnificent feat was achieved by Fine Art, who proved unstoppable between 1942 and 1946. This record even surpasses the heroics of renowned stayer Marsyas, who stormed to victory in four consecutive editions of the Prix du Cadran around the same time (1944-1947).

Eleven others have taken the honours at the Prix du Gros Chêne on more than one occasion. Leading the chasing pack with three wins in a row is Pensacola (1875, 1876, 1877); with nine racers on two wins apiece: Réveillé (1891, 1892), Hoche (1893, 1894), Phusla (1921, 1922), Limac (1936, 1937), Edellic (1958, 1959), L'Epinay (1962, 1963), Montgomery (1971, 1972), Sainte Marine (1998, 1999), Porlezza (2002, 2003) and Wizz Kid (2011, 2012). Catcall never won the race but finished second four consecutive years between 2013 and 2016.

Many renowned sprinters have written their names into the history books at the Prix du Gros Chêne, including the likes of Partisan (1864), Syphon (1908), Fils du Vent (1910), Epinard (1923), Niceas (1924), La Fayette (1929), Fine Art (see above), Borée (1949), Palariva (1956), Edellic (see above), Texanita (1964), Yours (1966), Be Friendly (1968), Balidar (1970), Sigy (1979), Last Tycoon (1986), Anabaa (1996) and Marchand d'Or (2008).

Also worth noting is the relatively even spread of winners between the different age groups competing. Of 157 winning runners (including one dead heat), 72 were 3-year-olds, 49 were 4-year-olds, 26 were 5 year-olds, 5 were 6 years of age, and 5 were 7 years old.

Another curious fact is that female runners went past the post first on 48 occasions (31%), an impressive record particularly if you consider that the majority of these were retired for breeding purposes at the end of their third year.

Foreign winners

The race’s honours list includes 15 winners trained on foreign soil. These are: Be Friendly (1968, dead-heat), Balidar (1970), Saulingo (1973), Madang (1977), Nabeel Dancer (1990), Surprise Offer (1993), Millyant (1995), Avonbridge (2004), The Trader (2005), Moss Vale (2006), Tax Free (2009), Spirit Quartz (2013), Muthmir (2015, 2017), Pradaro (2020) & Brostaigh (2022). Given British runners’ traditional dominance over sprint distances, this rather meagre tally could be considered something of a surprise. In reality, foreign competitors are relatively few given that the race takes place in early June, a matter of days before the meeting at Royal Ascot which offers sprinters significantly greater prize money and prestige.

Owners

• Claude-Joachim Lefèvre (5 wins): Alaric (1872), Regane (1873), Octave (1883), Feuillage (1886), Frapotel (1888)
• Pierre Wertheimer (5 wins): Epinard (1923), La Fayette (1929), Quartz (1933), Sanguine (1951), Kalpack (1954) ;
• Louis de La Rochette (5 wins): Fine Art (1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946).
• Frédéric de Lagrange (4 wins): Phenix (1859), Gentilhomme (1863), Dragon (1868), Manette II (1870).
• Auguste Lupin (4 wins): Pensacola (1875, 1876, 1877), Oviedo (1887).
• Richard-C. Strauss (4 wins): Last Tycoon (1986), Sainte Marine (1998, 1999), Beauty is Truth (2007).
• Casaque Aga Khan (4 wins): Niceas (1924), Palariva (1956) pour Aga Khan III, Faranha (1967), Adraan (1980) pour Aga Khan IV.
• Léonce Delâtre (3 wins): Anglo Saxon (1866), Turco (1869), Tabellion (1874).
• Edmond Blanc (3 wins): Porcelaine (1879), Chanaan (1906), Fils du Vent (1910).
• James Hennessy (3 wins): Réveillé (1891), Lovelace (1932), Thread (1941).
• Jean Stern (3 wins): Gilles de Rai (1912), Turlupin (1913), Titan (1927).
• Mrs Léon Volterra (3 wins): Edellic (1958, 1959), Klaizia (1968, dead-heat).
• Daniel Wildenstein (3 wins): Montgomery (1971, 1972), Monde Bleu (1992).
• Mrs Alec Head (3 wins): Realty (1975), Sigy (1979), Anabaa (1996).

N.B. It is one of the ferry few Group races that have eluded Marcel Boussac's horses.

Trainers

• François Mathet (7 wins): Joshua (1953), Edellic (1958, 1959), Texanita (1964), Farhana (1967), Rockcress (1969), Adraan (1980) ;
• Robert Collet (7 wins): Kind Music (1982), Last Tycoon (1986), Sainte Marine (1998, 1999), Beauty is Truth (2007), Wizz Kid (2011, 2012).
• Henry Jennings (6 wins): Géologie (1860), Sauterelle (1862), Partisan (1864), Anglo Saxon (1866), Turco (1869), Tabellion (1874).
• Robert Denman (6 wins): Octave (1883), Feuillage (1886), Frapotel (1888), Chanaan (1906), Fils du Vent (1910), Glorious (1920).
• Christiane Head (5 wins): Sigy (1979), Sonoma (1981), Tenue de Soirée (1987), Divine Danse (1991), Anabaa (1996).

Riders

• Roger Poincelet (9 wins): Fine Art (1944, 1945, 1946), Kalpack (1954), Palariva (1956), Jini (1957), Sly Pola (1960), High Bulk (1961), L’Epinay (1963).
• Yves Saint-Martin (7 wins): Texanita (1964), Farhana (1967), Montgomery (1971, 1972), Kala Shikari (1976), Adraan (1980), Last Tycoon (1986).
• Freddy Head (7 wins): Klaizia (1968, dead-heat), Realty (1975), Sigy (1979), Sonoma (1981), Glifahda (1988), Divine Danse (1991), Anabaa (1996).
• Frank O’Neill (5 wins): Turlupin (1913), Setauket (1919), Phusla (1921, 1922), Faraway (1925).
• Cash Asmussen (4 wins): Kind Music (1982), Millyant (1995), Titus Livius (1997), Sainte Marine (1999).