The Prix Niel is a Group 2 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), in September each year.

The race serves as a trial for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, which is held at the same venue three weeks later.

History A precursor of the race called the Prix de Chantilly was formerly staged at Chantilly in early September. It was open to horses aged three or older, and for a period its distance was 3,100 metres. It was subsequently transferred to Longchamp and run over 3,000 metres. It was shortened to 2,400 metres in 1952, and reduced to 2,300 metres in 1953.

The Prix de Chantilly was restricted to three-year-olds when a separate event was introduced for older horses in 1955. The new race was initially titled the Prix Henri Foy, and from this point the Prix de Chantilly was contested over 2,400 metres.

The race was cut to 2,000 metres in 1960, and restored to 2,400 metres the following year. It was switched to Chantilly in 1964, and returned to Longchamp with a length of 2,100 metres in 1966. It was extended to 2,200 metres in 1968.

The event was renamed in memory of Gaston Niel (1880–1970), a long-serving member of the Société d'Encouragement, in 1972. For several years the Prix Niel held Group 3 status. It was increased to 2,400 metres in 1979, and promoted to Group 2 level in 1987.

The Prix Niel became part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series in 2010, with the winner earning an automatic invitation to compete in the Breeders' Cup Turf. It was removed from the series in 2012.

Twelve winners of the race have achieved victory in the same year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The first was Sica Boy in 1954, and the most recent Rail Link in 2006.

Prix Niel is eligible for geldings from 2020.Geldings' green light in French Group races Due to the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic, 2020 Prix Niel are not run, and are replaced by the Grand Prix de Paris.French racing to restart with four Group races and Monday slot for the Guineas

Records Leading jockey since 1952 (4 wins): Yves Saint-Martin – Nelcius (1966), Akarad (1981), Sagace (1983), Mouktar (1985) Freddy Head – Taj Dewan (1967), (1974), Gay Mecene (1978), Cariellor (1984)

Leading trainer since 1952 (13 wins): André Fabre – Cariellor (1984), Trempolino (1987), Subotica (1991), Carnegie (1994), Housamix (1995), Sagamix (1998), Valixir (2004), Hurricane Run (2005), Rail Link (2006), Cavalryman (2009), New Bay (2015), Sosie (2024), Cualificar (2025)

Leading owner since 1952 (5 wins): HH Aga Khan IV – Akarad (1981), Mouktar (1985), Sinndar (2000), Dalakhani (2003), Behkabad (2010)

Winners since 1978 Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time 1978 Gay Mecene Freddy Head Alec Head Jacques Wertheimer 2:18.00 1979 Le Marmot Philippe Paquet François Boutin Rodolph Schafer 2:37.70 1980 Prince Bee Willie Carson Dick Hern Sir Michael Sobell 2:32.30 1981 Akarad Yves Saint-Martin François Mathet Aga Khan IV 2:30.40 1982 Bon Sang Alfred Gibert Mitri Saliba Mahmoud Fustok 1983 Sagace Yves Saint-Martin Patrick Biancone Daniel Wildenstein 2:43.50 1984 Cariellor Freddy Head André Fabre Suzy Volterra 1985 Mouktar Yves Saint-Martin Alain de Royer-Dupré Aga Khan IV 2:30.60 1986 Bering Gary W. Moore Criquette Head Ghislaine Head 2:36.80 1987 Trempolino Pat Eddery André Fabre Paul de Moussac 2:38.40 1988 Fijar Tango Tony Cruz Georges Mikhalidès Mahmoud Fustok 2:34.60 1989 Golden Pheasant Tony Cruz Jonathan Pease Bruce McNall 2:32.50 1990 Epervier Bleu Dominique Boeuf Élie Lellouche Daniel Wildenstein 2:32.00 1991 Subotica Thierry Jarnet André Fabre Olivier Lecerf 2:28.50 1992 Songlines Olivier Benoist Edouard Bartholomew Sir Robin McAlpine 2:32.80 1993 Hernando Cash Asmussen François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 2:36.70 1994 Carnegie Thierry Jarnet André Fabre Sheikh Mohammed 2:34.90 1995 Housamix Thierry Jarnet André Fabre Jean-Luc Lagardère 2:36.10 1996 Helissio Olivier Peslier Élie Lellouche Enrique Sarasola 2:30.40 1997 Rajpoute Gérald Mossé François Doumen John Martin 2:30.90 1998 Sagamix Olivier Peslier André Fabre Jean-Luc Lagardère 2:41.30 1999 Montjeu Michael Kinane John Hammond Michael Tabor 2:32.80 2000 Sinndar Johnny Murtagh John Oxx Aga Khan IV 2:26.40 2001 Golan Kieren Fallon Sir Michael Stoute Lord Weinstock 2:27.00 2002 Sulamani Thierry Thulliez Pascal Bary Niarchos Family 3:12.80 2003 Dalakhani Christophe Soumillon Alain de Royer-Dupré Aga Khan IV 2:27.60 2004 Valixir Éric Legrix André Fabre Lagardère Family 2:29.40 2005 Hurricane Run Kieren Fallon André Fabre Michael Tabor 2:30.70 2006 Rail Link Christophe Soumillon André Fabre Khalid Abdullah 2:31.90 2007 Soldier of Fortune Johnny Murtagh Aidan O'Brien Magnier / Smith / Tabor 2:25.60 2008 Vision d'Etat Ioritz Mendizabal Eric Libaud Detré / Libaud 2:27.40 2009 Cavalryman Frankie Dettori André Fabre Godolphin 2:30.10 2010 Behkabad Christophe Lemaire Jean-Claude Rouget Aga Khan IV 2:30.80 2011 Reliable Man Gérald Mossé Alain de Royer-Dupré Pride Racing Club 2:32.43 2012 Saonois Antoine Hamelin Jean-Pierre Gauvin Pascal Treyve 2:35.31 2013 Kizuna Yutaka Take Shozo Sasaki Shinji Maeda 2:37.64 2014 Ectot Grégory Benoist Élie Lellouche Al Shaqab Racing 2:26.36 2015 New Bay Vincent Cheminaud André Fabre Khalid Abdullah 2:35.10 2016 Makahiki Christophe Lemaire Yasuo Tomoichi Makoto Keneko 2:35.84 2017 Cracksman Frankie Dettori John Gosden Anthony Oppenheimer 2:37.78 2018 Brundtland James Doyle Charlie Appleby Godolphin 2:31.55 2019 Sottsass Cristian Demuro Jean-Claude Rouget White Birch Farm 2:27.46 2020 no race 2021 Bubble Gift Gérald Mossé Mikel Delzangles Zak Bloodstock 2:34.63 2022 Simca Mille Grégory Benoist Stephane Wattel Haras De La Perelle & S Wattel 2:32.81 2023 Fantastic Moon Rene Piechulek Sarah Steinberg Liberty Racing 2:33.20 2024 Sosie Maxime Guyon André Fabre Wertheimer et Frère 2:34.33 2025 Cualificar William Buick André Fabre Godolphin 2:30.56 2026 Varandir Mickael Barzalona Francis-Henri Graffard Aga Khan Studs 2:25.70

Earlier winners

1952: 1953: Shikampur 1954: Sica Boy 1955: Walhalla 1956: 1957: Amber 1958: Upstart 1959: Montrouge 1960: Puissant Chef 1961: Devon 1962: Kistinie 1963: Le Mesnil 1964: Sigebert 1965: Super Sam 1966: Nelcius 1967: Taj Dewan 1968: Vaguely Noble 1969: Belbury 1970: Stintino 1971: Arlequino 1972: Hard to Beat 1973: Dahlia 1974: 1975: Anne's Pretender 1976: Youth 1977: Crystal Palace

See also List of French flat horse races

References

France Galop / Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

External links Race Recordings (1986, 1988-2005) youtube.com france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix Niel. galopp-sieger.de – Prix Niel (ex Prix de Chantilly). horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix Niel (2016). pedigreequery.com – Prix Niel – Longchamp.