Vicomtesse Vigier History: A French Gold Cup

26 May 2024

Photo scoopdyga.com

May, ParisLongchamp*

Prix Vicomtesse Vigier

Group 2, 4-year-old and above, 3,100m/15.5f, €130,000

Created in 1859 (Prix Jean Prat), renamed in 1985

Last winner: Sevenna's Knight (c4, IRE by Camelot ex Sevenna, by Galileo), owned by à OTI Management, bred by Gestüt Ammerland, trained by André Fabre, ridden by Mickaël Barzalona.

The race will be run in 2025 for the 162nd time

The 2024 edition

Sunday, May 26, 2024, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). – Dominant in the Prix de Barbeville (Gr3) with favourable weight conditions, Sevenna's Knight (Camelot) confirmed his prowess at level weights in the €130,000 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (Gr2) two-miler. He settled behind the Czech visitor Magic Merlin (Ulysses), who set the pace and was joined at the top of the hill by Sober (Camelot), the defending champion.

As the leader began to fade at the entrance to the final straight, Sevenna’s Knight made his move, soon challenged on the inside by Double Major (Daiwa Major) and in the middle of the track by 4-year-old filly Shemala (Cracksman). Shemala kept up her effort to finish second, nearly two lengths behind, without ever truly threatening the winner. Double Major, who faded towards the end, finished in third place, three lengths behind the filly.

Vicomtesse Vigier (Gr2, 3100m) à #ParisLongchamp : Le favori Sevenna’s Knight (Camelot) domine à nouveau et devient le meilleur cheval de tenue en France sous la casaque OTI management. pic.twitter.com/i40S1knZPf

— France Galop (@francegalop) May 26, 2024

The 4-year-old entire colt, Sevenna’s Knight, is entered in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Gr1) and the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr1).

He is the eighth foal out of Sevenna (Galileo), a Group 2 winner in England, whose early offspring include Sassella (Lope de Vega), winner of the Prix Belle de Nuit (L), who was sold at the latest Arqana breeding sales for €17,000, barren, to C&S Bloodstock. Sevenna has also produced Savanne (Rock of Gibraltar), winner of the Prix de Royaumont (Gr3). Recently, Sevenna foaled a 3-year-old Camelot colt sold for €85,000 as a yearling at Deauville but still unraced and a 2-year-old New Bay filly, trained by André Fabre for Gestüt Ammerland.

History

It was in 1985 that the title of Prix Vicomtesse Vigier was given to one of two races then bearing the same name, the version of the Prix Jean Prat that was open to older horses, run over 1 mile 7 ½ furlongs and, at the time, served as a trial for the Classic race, the Prix du Cadran. This brought an end to a sometimes confusing situation by leaving just one Prix Jean Prat (see the race of that name), reserved for 3 year-olds. In 1940, the name Prix Jean Prat had been given to two very old races held at Longchamp under the name of the "Prix Biennal", one of which, created in 1858, was reserved for 3 year-olds, while the other, first run in 1859 and that was to become the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier, was exclusively for 4 year-olds.

Originally, the race’s distance was 2 miles, but the distance was changed a few occasions until 1955, when it settled at 3,100m/15.5 furlongs, and at 3,000m/15furlongs from 2016. The race has produced a dead heat once, in 1881 between Beauminet and Le Destrier. The Prix Vicomtesse Vigier was cancelled in 1871 and from 1915 to 1918. It was transferred to Maisons-Laffitte for three years, from 1943 to 1945, to Deauville in 2016 and 2017 during the Longchamp renovation works, and (*) in June at Chantilly during the coronavirus outbreak.

From its creation, the race served as a trial event for the Prix du Cadran run over 2 miles and 4 furlongs a few weeks later. But since the Prix du Cadran was moved to early October in 1991, the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier has become the main long-distance race held in France in the first half of the year. During this period, only four horses have done the Vigier-Cadran double: Molesnes in the same year (1994); Tajoun with a gap of one year (the spring event in 1998 and the autumn event in 1999); Westerner, twice a winner of the Cadran (2003 and 2004), then of the Vicomtesse Vigier as a 6-year-old in 2005 after having come second in the event the previous year, and finally Vazirabad in 2017 at 5.

Vicomtesse Vigier (1869-1970)

Born Madeleine Double de Saint-Lambert, Vicomtesse Vigier was the niece of the leading breeder, Jean Prat. Upon his death in early 1940, she inherited his stable. Before long, the colours of Vicomtesse Vigier (brown jersey, orange sleeves, white cap) shone courtesy of Maurepas (Prix du Cadran and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud 1941), Mascotte (2^nd in the 1941 Prix Vermeille), Rengaine (Prix de Pomone 1942) and Magister, who did the Jockey Club-Grand Prix de Paris double in 1942. All three were trained by Charles Defeyer. After becoming the owner of the Lessard-le-Chêne stud farm, Vicomtesse Vigier bred several good performers there who, then entrusted to Richard Carver senior, ensured her colours kept flying high on French racecourses. These included Musette (1946, seven wins, Prix de Minerve, 2^nd in Prix Morny, 3^rd in Poule d'Essai, Prix de Diane), Rancio (1946, Prix Noailles, 2^nd in Prix Greffulhe), Neda (1947, Prix de Malleret), Siva (1955, Prix Boïard) and Seddouk (1956, Prix Berteux, 3^rd in Prix Hocquart).

Vicomtesse Vigier’s memory remains associated with the ceremony held on 14 September 1969 at Longchamp in celebration of her 100th birthday. Sharp and stylish, she received a bouquet of flowers from the hands of 'Yves Saint-Martin, while the chairman of French racing’s governing body, Marcel Boussac, presented her with a cup and 2 three-stemmed chandeliers. On this historic day, the meeting’s showpiece event, the Prix de la Salamandre, temporarily took on the name of the "Prix du centième anniversaire de Madame la Vicomtesse Vigier".

A few months later, in January 1970, Vicomtesse Vigier passed away in her 101st year. The last horse to carry her colours to victory had been Lampire, trained by Edouard Bartholomew, a winner in the Prix de Compiègne at Le Touquet on 13 July 1969. It was in 1985 that the title of Prix Vicomtesse Vigier was given to one of the two races previously known by the same name, Prix Jean Prat. This particular race, open to older horses and run over 3,100 metres, was at the time a preparatory race for the classic Prix du Cadran. This change ended a sometimes confusing situation, with only one Prix Jean Prat (see under this name) reserved for 3-year-olds. The name Prix Jean Prat was originally given in 1940 to two very old races held at Longchamp under the name "Prix Biennal," with one race reserved for 3-year-olds and the other for 4-year-olds. The first race was created in 1858, and the second race—the one that became the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier—was created in 1859.

Owners

Famille Rothschild (7 wins): Biéville (1875), Forum (1882) pour Alphonse, Prédicateur (1913), Cadum (1925) pour Édouard, Céladon (1954), White Label (1965), Alyscamps (1966) pour Guy.
Aga Khan (6 wins): Zamazaan (1969), Tajoun (1998), Shamdala (2006), Vazirabad (2016, 2017, 2018).
Henri Delamarre (5 wins): Pauvre Hère (1861), Angus (1862), Clotaire (1872), Boiard (1874), Clio (1883).
Marcel Boussac (5 wins): Marsyas (1944, 1945), Arbar (1948), Marveil (12950), Scratch (1951).
Famille Wildenstein (5 wins)*: Buckskin (1977), Balitou (19856), Air de Cour (1986), Tale Quale (1987) pour Daniel, Westerner (2005) pour l’écurie Wildenstein.
Frédéric de Lagrange (4 wins): Fille de l’Air (1865), Fleurette (1867), Nemea (1868), Mortemer (1869).
Edmond Blanc (4 wins): Gouverneur (1892), Lagrange (1894), Gouvernant (1905), Génial (1906).

Trainers

Alain de Royer-Dupré (7 wins): Starski (1982), Tajoun (1998), Shamdala (2006), Ivory Land (2012), Vazirabad (2016, 2017, 2018).
André Fabre (7 wins): Magwal (1984), Amilynx (2000), Coastal Path (2008), Américain (2009), Brigantin (2011), Sober (2023), Sevenna's Knight (2024).
Henry Jennings (6 wins): Tippler (1859), Light (1860), Fumée (1866), Cerdagne (1870), Revigny (1873), Mourle (1879).
Thomas-Richard Carter (5 wins): Pauvre Hère (1861), Angus (1862), Clotaire (1872), Boiard (1874), Clio (1883).
Charles Semblat (5 wins): Marsyas (1944, 1945), Arbar (1948), Marveil (1950), Scratch (1951).
Tom Jennings (4 wins): Fille de l’Air (1865), Fleurette (1867), Nemea (1868), Mortemer (1869).
George Cunnington senior (4 wins): Brisolier (1888), Pourtant (1890), Germain (1900), Nimbus (1914).
François Mathet (4 wins): Polar (1956), Cirio (1963), Danseur (1967), Zamazaan (1969).

Riders

Yves Saint-Martin (6 wins): Cirio (1963), Danseur (1967), Zamazaan (1969), Paseo (1970), Récupéré (1974), Buckskin (1977).
Freddy Head (6 wins): Hallez (1971), Midshipman (1978), Campero (1979), Gold River (1981), Starski (1982), Dadarissime (1993).
George Bridgland (5 wins): Casterari (1934), Admiral Drake (1935), Quorn (1936), Malkowicze (1938), Chanteur (1946).
Christophe Soumillon (5 wins): Shamdala (2006), Domeside (2013), Vazirabad (2016, 2017, 2018).
Tom Lane (4 wins): Lapin (1886), Alger (1887), Alicante (1891), Gouverneur (1892).
Johnny Reiff (4 wins): Querido (1907), Sablonnet (1911), Joyeux V (1912), Nimbus (1914).
Albert Sharpe (4 wins): Gave (1919), Odol (1921), Harpocrate (1922), Massine (1924).
Olivier Peslier (4 wins): Molesnes (1994), Amilynx (2000), Westerner (2005), Américain (2009).
Maxime Guyon (3 wins): Fly With Me (2024), Bathyrhon (2015), Sober (2023).
Mickaël Barzalona (3 wins): Skazino (2021, 2022), Sevenna's Knight (2024).