New Prix du Jockey-Club, So Far So Good?

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By ARSENE ABITBOL - 17 May 2009 - 12.04 pm
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In 2005, France Galop, the governing body in French racing opted to cut the French Derby from 2,400m to 2,100 meters i.e from 1m4f to 1m2f110y. As far as we know, the Irish Derby and The Derby Stakes are still run over 1m4f, aren't they? Am I missing something ? At the time, this decision was not warmly welcomed by the French professionals and it looks like their reservations were fully justified. I am not in the habit of criticizing but many, including me, are still very skeptical and the evidence below shows why.


Let's see how Jockey-Club winners fared in the Arc and in Group I races ran over 2,400m from 1997 to 2008.

.......................................................................Ran over 2.400 m ......................
1997 - Peintre Celebre - 1st - retired
1998 - Dream Well - 8th - won Irish Derby Stakes (Gr I - 12f)
1999 - Montjeu - 1st - won King George and QE Stakes (Gr I - 12f)
2000 - Holding Court - absent -
2001 - Anabaa Blue - 9th -
2002 - Sulamani - 2nd - won the Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr I - 12f).
2003 - Dalakhani - 1st - retired
2004 - Blue Canari - 12th -

......................................................................Constested over 2.100 m .......................
2005 - Shamardal - absent - won Gr I St James Palace Stakes (1m)
2006 - Darsi - absent - 5th in Irish Derby
2007 - Lawman - absent - won Gr I Jean Prat (1m)
2008 - Vision d'Etat - 5th - won Gr I Ganay (11f)

The table above speaks for itself and the verdict is very clear.

Firstly, if we consider the last eight runnings of the 'traditional' Jockey-Club, the French Classic has thrown up one absentee (Holding Court), three Arc heroes and one second. And if that wasn't a fair comparison, if we take into account the last four editions, the facts still remain with one winner (Dalakhani) and one second (Sulamani).

Secondly, since 2005, the rearranged French Derby has provided three absentees and a fifth. Shamardal, Darsi and Lawman, weren't even in the Arc line-up! That's what it means! The first three being milers rather than middle-distance horses. Arguably, a case could be made for Hurricane Run, a frustrating runner-up to Shamardal, the son of Montjeu went on to lift the Arc trophy a few months later, but again, the fact remains that prior to his scintillating win, he won the Irish Derby over twelve furlongs. Apart from Vision d'Etat who notched fifth in Zarkava's Arc, the verdict has not been very flattering...Having said that, Eric Libaud's colt landed the Gr I Prix Ganay but it's an eleven furlong event.

And thirdly, if we don't mention those who retired, Peintre Célèbre and Dalakhani, three out of six still captured Group I tournaments contested over 2,400 meters, another evidence that suggests the Jockey-Club might not lead to one of Europe's greatest races anymore. Since 1836 the French Derby had been designed to crown the best three-year-olds on the 'Distance Classique' and, there must have been a valid reason to do so for 168 years.

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Sources : http://www.racingpost.com/ - http://www.wikipedia.org/ - http://www.france-galop.com/