The Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Chantilly over a distance of 1,200 metres (about 6 furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.
History The event was established in 1891 at Maisons-Laffitte, and it was originally held in September. It served as a trial for the Grand Critérium in mid-October. It was initially contested over 1,400 metres, and was shortened to 1,200 metres in 1897.
The Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte was abandoned throughout World War I, with no running from 1914 to 1919. It was extended to 1,500 metres in 1922.
The race was cancelled twice during World War II, in 1939 and 1940. It was staged at Longchamp in 1941 and 1942, and at Le Tremblay over 1,400 metres in 1944. It took place at Longchamp again in 1945, and was abandoned in 1948. Its regular distance was cut to 1,400 metres in 1952.
The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte was classed at Group 2 level. It was moved to late October or early November in 1981.
The event was contested at Évry over 1,300 metres in 1995 and 1996. During this period it was called the Critérium des Deux Ans. It reverted to 1,400 metres in 1997, and started its present spell over 1,200 metres in 2001. The race was moved to mid-October in 2015 as part of a series of changes to autumn races for two-year-olds. Maisons-Laffitte closed at the end of the 2019 season and the race has been run at Chantilly since 2020.
Records Leading jockey (5 wins): Christophe Soumillon – Zinziberine (2002), Whipper (2003), Captain Marvelous (2006), Kiram (2013), Sky Majesty (2024)
Leading trainer (9 wins): François Boutin – Speedy Dakota (1974), Crowned Music (1978), Viteric (1979), Cresta Rider (1980), Zino (1981), L'Emigrant (1982), Procida (1983), Corviglia (1988), Ganges (1990)
Leading owner (9 wins): Marcel Boussac – Ramus (1921), Nosca (1941), Sandjar (1946), Djeddah (1947), Pharad (1951), Albanilla (1953), Janiari (1955), Floriana (1958), Perello (1976)
Winners since 1978 Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time 1978 Crowned Music Philippe Paquet François Boutin Walter Haefner 1:25.30 1979 Viteric Philippe Paquet François Boutin Walter Haefner 1980 Cresta Rider Philippe Paquet François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 1981 Zino Philippe Paquet François Boutin Gerry Oldham 1982 L'Emigrant Cash Asmussen François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 1:30.50 1983 Procida Cash Asmussen François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 1:25.20 1984 Rapide Pied Freddy Head Criquette Head Maktoum Al Maktoum 1:29.20 1985 Lead on Time Alain Badel Olivier Douieb Maktoum Al Maktoum 1:25.00 1986 Grecian Urn Alain Lequeux David Smaga Sir Michael Sobell 1987 Bitooh Gary W. Moore Criquette Head Maktoum Al Maktoum 1:31.90 1988 Corviglia Eric Saint-Martin François Boutin Jerome Brody 1:30.70 1989 Septieme Ciel Guy Guignard Criquette Head Johnny Jones 1:24.30 1990 Ganges Éric Legrix François Boutin Allen Paulson 1:25.90 1991 Cardoun Alain Lequeux Élie Lellouche Edgard Zorbibe 1:29.70 1992 Kadounor Olivier Doleuze Jean Laumain Henri Rabatel 1:35.40 1993 Signe Divin Thierry Jarnet André Fabre Paul de Moussac 1:28.50 1994 Bishop of Cashel David Harrison James Fanshawe Moncrisp Ltd 1:32.20 1995 Titus Livius Cash Asmussen Jonathan Pease Stavros Niarchos 1:19.07 1996 Deadly Dudley Olivier Peslier Richard Hannon Sr. Lucayan Stud 1:20.11 1997 Roi Gironde Olivier Peslier Criquette Head Peter Savill 1:27.50 1998 Moiava Olivier Doleuze Criquette Head Wertheimer et Frère 1:31.90 1999 Touch of the Blues Dominique Boeuf Carlos Laffon-Parias Maktoum Al Maktoum 1:29.80 2000 Amiwain Olivier Peslier André Fabre Jean-Luc Lagardère 1:29.40 2001 Captain Rio Thierry Jarnet Richard Whitaker David Samuel 1:14.30 2002 Zinziberine Christophe Soumillon André Fabre Elisabeth Fabre 1:12.70 2003 Whipper Christophe Soumillon Robert Collet Richard Strauss 1:14.70 2004 Centifolia Ioritz Mendizabal Robert Collet Berland 1:12.00 2005 Balthazaar's Gift Jamie Spencer Kevin Ryan Ryder Racing Ltd 1:10.10 2006 Captain Marvelous Christophe Soumillon Barry Hills Ronald Arculli 1:11.60 2007 Pomellato Andrasch Starke Peter Schiergen Gestüt Ittlingen 1:13.60 2008 Smooth Operator Andreas Helfenbein Mario Hofer Stall Jenny 1:15.30 2009 Our Jonathan Jamie Spencer Kevin Ryan Marwan Koukash 1:19.70 2010 Blu Constellation Mirco Demuro Vittorio Caruso Scuderia Incolinx 1:14.40 2011 Restiadargent Maxime Guyon Henri-Alex Pantall Guy Pariente 1:14.40 2012 Penny's Picnic Antoine Hamelin Didier Guillemin Saint-Seine / Delegue 1:14.40 2013 Kiram Christophe Soumillon Jean-Claude Rouget HH Aga Khan 1:16.30 2014 Mattmu David Allan Tim Easterby James Bowers 1:13.35 2015 Donjuan Triumphant Alexis Badel Richard Fahey Middleham Park Racing 1:13.10 2016 Sans Equivoque Thierry Jarnet Didier Guillemin Sun Bloodstock Sarl 1:12.78 2017 Fighting Irish Cristian Demuro Harry Dunlop Daniel Macauliffe & Anoj Don 1:11.59 2018 Hello Youmzain Kevin Stott Kevin Ryan Jaber Abdullah 1:10.60 2019 Shadn Pierre-Charles Boudot Andrew Balding Katsumi Yoshida 1:12.23 2020 Plainchant Valentin Seguy Maurizio Guarnieri Alain Jathiere 1:16.15 2021 Malavath Olivier Peslier Francis-Henri Graffard Everest Racing, David Redvers & Mrs Barbara M Keller 1:12.11 2022 Charyn Mickael Barzalona Roger Varian Nurlan Bizakov 1:10.58 2023 Classic Flower Mickael Barzalona Patrice Cottier Gousserie Racing & Jean-Etienne Dubois 1:10.03 2024 Sky Majesty Christophe Soumillon William Haggas Tony Bloom & Ian McAleavy 1:14.15 2025 Samangan Mickael Barzalona Francis-Henri Graffard Aga Khan Studs SCEA 1:10.39
Earlier winners
1891: Idalie 1892: Commandeur 1893: L'Herault 1894: Cherbourg 1895: Champignol 1896: Fils de Roi 1897: Artisan 1898: Holocauste 1899: Ramadan 1900: Butor 1901: Le Mandinet 1902: Hebron 1903: French Fox 1904: Val d'Or 1905: Prestige 1906: Peroraison 1907: Northeast 1908: Azalee 1909: Nuage 1910: Nectarine 1911: Montrose 1912: Coupesarte 1913: Listman 1914–19: no race 1920: Cortland 1921: Ramus 1922: Épinard 1923: Carnation 1924: Melisande 1925: Apelle 1926: Fenimore Cooper 1 1927: Mourad 1928: Florio 1929: Le Val d'Enfer 1930: Indus 1931: Present 1932: Le Cacique 1933: Boucan 1934: Clain 1935: Alejo 1936: May Wong 1937: Blue Star 1938: Birikil 1939–40: no race 1941: Nosca 1942: Pensbury 1943: Turquoise 1944: 1945: Tourmente 1946: Sandjar 1947: Djeddah 1948: no race 1949: Fort Napoleon 1950: Le Tyrol 1951: Pharad 1952: Fort de France 1953: Albanilla 1954: Soleil Royal 1955: Janiari 1956: Achaz 1957: Bella Paola 1958: Floriana 1959: Djebel Traffic 1960: Star 1961: Lebon M L 1962: Neptune's Doll 1963: Soleil d'Or 1964: Sea Bird 1965: Hauban 1966: Gazala 1967: Pola Bella 1968: Rimesault 1969: Faraway Son 1970: Round Top 1971: Steel Pulse 1972: Rose Laurel 1973: Wittgenstein 1974: Speedy Dakota 1975: Earth Spirit 1976: Perello 1977: Vallee des Fleurs 2
1 Jopp finished first in 1926, but was relegated to second place following a stewards' inquiry.2 Cosmopolitan was first in 1977, but he was placed second after a stewards' inquiry.
See also List of French flat horse races
References
France Galop / Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , galop.courses-france.com: 1891–1919, 1920–1949, 1950–1979, 1980–present france-galop.com – A Brief History: Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte. galopp-sieger.de – Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte. horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte (2016). pedigreequery.com – Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte – Maisons-Laffitte.