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Royaumont History: The Chantilly Oaks

8 June 2020

Royaumont History: The Chantilly Oaks

Photo Pellegrina : scoopdyga.com

June, Chantilly

Prix de Royaumont

 

Group 3, 3yo Fillies, 2,400m/1m1/2, €56,000

Created in 1883

Last winner: Ebaiyra (F3, USA by Distorted Humor ex Ebiyza, by Rock of Gibraltar), owned by Aga Khan, bred by Aga Khan, trained by Alain de Royer Dupré, ridden by Christophe Soumillon.

Record-time: 2'25''9 by Pellegrina (2019).

The race will be run in 2021 for the 133rd time

 

The 2020 edition

Wednesday, June 10, 2020, Chantilly. - Twice second before, Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor) made an impression, going from the last to the front on the last furlong of the Prix de Royaumont (Gr3), a 3-year-old fillies race over 1m1/2.

The race’s other favourite, American Apples (American Post), long looked like a winner after leading the race but she could not do anything against the winner when she went to the fore in midfield. She is beaten by two and a half lengths and leads the good finisher Mozzarella (Power) by two lengths as the brave Hakela du Seuil (Poliglote) couldn't hold on to the podium.

Homebred by the Aga Khan, Ebaiyra was 2nd for her debut in September behind a filly who'd already run twice. For her return, Ebaiyra finished 2nd to Solsticia, who did not run again but is very highly-regarded.

Ebaiyra's dam won the Qatar Prix de Royallieu (Gr2) and foaled Edisa (Kitten’s Joy), a Prix du Conseil de Paris (Gr2) second.

She's in the Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) and the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).


    History

    The Prix de Royaumont is named after the famous abbey (founded in 1228 by Saint Louis) located twelve kilometres from Chantilly. For a long time one of the richest in France, it is currently used as a cultural centre. In the era when this race was founded, it was common for races to be named after a place or site in the region surrounding the racecourse. It was not until a little later that it became common practice to name races after famous personalities or horses.

    The Prix de Royaumont was run for the first time on 13 May 1883 at Chantilly, on the same day as the Prix de Diane. Reserved for "3 year-old fillies entered in the Prix de Diane but then withdrawn”, it was thus designed for those that had fallen short of the highest standard, with the winner having to content herself with a purse equal to just 10% of the showpiece derby for fillies. Traditionally, the Prix de Royaumont was contested on the same day as the Prix de Diane but since 1977, it has been held a fortnight earlier.

    The Prix de Royaumont was not held from 1915 to 1918 and in 1940 due to war, or in 1975 because of a strike by stable lads. It was run at Chantilly over 1 mile 2 ½ furlongs until 1986, apart from in the war and post-war years, when it took place at Longchamp in 1919, 1920, 1941, 1942, 1945, 1946 and 1947, and at Le Tremblay in 1943 and 1944 over 1 mile 2 ¾ furlongs. From 1987, the Prix de Royaumont was again on the move: to Longchamp until 1990 and to Saint-Cloud from 1991 to 1996 and in 2001. Since 1992, its distance has been a mile and a half.

    Despite the absence of Prix de Diane victors, the Prix de Royaumont’s honours list does include winners of some big races: Prix Vermeille, Basse Pointe (1910), Samphire (1927), Mi Carina (1959), Casaque Grise (1967), Kitesurf (2017) ; Irish Oaks, Santa Tina (1970); Prix de l’Opéra, Waya (1977); Breeders’ Cup Turf, Miss Alleged (1990).

     

    Owners

    • Jean Prat (7 wins): Marjolaine (1893), Cabane (1908), Musique (1921), Raflade (1926), Sesia (1931), Relique (1933), Marphise (1938).
    • Famille Rothschild (6 wins): Stresa (1883), Estelle (1886), Perle Rose (1889), Fatuité (1890), Amazone (1891) for Alphonse, La Mie au Gué (1929), Fée Esterel (1932) for Édouard.
    • Casaque Wertheimer (5 wins): Azurella (1974), La Dorga (1978), Bellarida (1989) for Jacques, Sadler’s Flag (2000), Légèreté (2007) for Wertheimer&Frère.
    • Daniel Wildenstein (4 wins): Agujita (1969), Waya (1977), Villandry (1991), Volga (2001).
    • Khalid Abdullah (4 wins): Berceau (1992), Apogée (1993), Cantilever (1998), Dance Routine (2002).
    • Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum & Godolphin (4 wins): Genovefa (1995), Spanih Falls (1996), Lady’s Purse (2010) for Sheikh Mohammed, Kitesurf (2017) pour Godolphin.
    • Aga Khan (4 wins): Shawanda (2005), Minatlya (2006), Kataniya (2015), Ebaiyra (2020).
    • Arthur de Schickler (3 wins): Althea (1885), La Délivrande (1887), Olympie (1899).
    • Jacques de Brémond (3 wins): Ecrevisse (1896), Karamanie (1902), Wide Awake (1903).
    • François Dupré (3 wins): Reine d’Atout (1954), Marie Jolie (1960), Bubunia (1966).
       

    Trainers

    • André Fabre (13 wins): Galla Placidia (1985), Villandry (1991), Berceau (1992), Apogée (1993), Genovefa (1995), Legend Maker (1997), Dance Routine (2002), Diasilixa (2003), Minatlya (2006), Légèreté (2007), Savanne (2014), Kitesurf (2017), Pelligrina (2019).
    • F. Lynham (5 wins): Stresa (1883), Estelle (1886), Perle Rose (1889), Fatuité (1890), Amazone (1891).
    • Frank Carter (5 wins): Allamanda (1911), Pomaré (1923), Tetratela (1924), Samphire (1927), Finlandaise (1935).
    • John Cunnington (5 wins): Brunanburh (1934), Pereire (1939), Vertelle (1943), Picardie (1947), Chaleureuse (1962).
    • William Webb (4 wins): Althea (1885), La Délivrande (1887), Olympie (1899), Zingara (1904).
    • Richard Count (4 wins): Ecrevisse (1896), Goguette (1898), Karamanie (1902), Wide Awake (1903).
    • Henry Harper (4 wins): Likka (1928), Sesia (1931), Relique (1933), Marphise (1938).
    • François Mathet (4 wins): Reine d’Atout (1954), Marie Jolie (1960), Bubunia (1966), Casaque Grise (1967).
    • Christiane Head (4 wins): Bellarida (1989), Spanih Falls (1996), Cantilever (1998), Sadler’s Flag (2000).
    • Alain de Royer-Dupré (4 wins): Shawanda (2005), Sub Rose (2008), Kataniya (2015), Ebaiyra (2020).
       

    Riders

    • F. Crickmere (4 wins): Stresa (1883), Estelle (1886), Fatuité (1890), Amazone (1891).
    • Charles Semblat (4 wins): Tetratela (1924), Raflade (1926), Samphire (1927), Finlandaise (1935).
    • Fernand Rochetti (4 wins): L’Abbesse de Menin (1930), Pereire (1939), Picardie (1947), Séduction (1948, dead-heat).
    • Jean Deforge (4 wins): All Risk (1955), Chaleureuse (1962), Partisane (1963), Dreida (1964).
    • Yves Saint-Martin (4 wins): Marie Jolie (1960), Bubunia (1966), Casaque Grise (1967), Waya (1977).
    • Dominique Bœuf (4 wins): Miss Alleged (1990), Villandry (1991), Side Saddle (1999), Volga (2001).
    • Christophe Soumillon (4 wins): Diasilixa (2003), Shawanda (2005), Sub Rose (2008), Ebaiyra (2020).
    • George Stern (3 wins): May Queen (1900), Blue Fly (1906), Coraline (1913).
    • Guy Lequeux (3 wins): L’Oasis (1949), Hortensia (1950) et Reine d’Atout (1954).
    • Alain Lequeux (3 wins): Producer (1979), River Memories (1987), Truly Special (1988).
    • Freddy Head (3 wins): Azurella (1974), La Dorga (1978), Spanish Falls (1993).
    • Thierry Jarnet (3 wins): Apogée (1993), Genovefa (1995), Legend Maker (1997).
    • Stéphane Pasquier (3 wins): Minatlya (2006), Testotérone (2011), The Juliet Rose (2016).
    • Olivier Peslier (3 wins): Dance Routine (2002), Légèreté (2007), Pollara (2018).