The Prix La Rochette is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,400 metres (about 7 furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

History The event was originally part of a series called the Prix Triennal. The first leg, the precursor of the modern version, was introduced in 1882. The second, for three-year-olds, began in 1883, and the third, for four-year-olds, in 1884. Each was restricted to horses owned by the breeder who foaled them. The races were initially held at Fontainebleau, and the juvenile division was contested over 1,100 metres.

The Prix Triennal was renamed in memory of Charles de La Rochette (1820–1889), a long-serving steward of the Société d'Encouragement, in 1889. It moved to Longchamp in 1892, and the two-year-old leg was cut to 1,000 metres. It reverted to 1,100 metres in 1893.

The series switched to Chantilly in 1906, and from this point the two and three-year-old parts were split into separate divisions for colts and fillies. They were abandoned during World War I, but substitutes were held at Maisons-Laffitte in 1918. The series returned to Longchamp in 1919, and to Chantilly in 1920. It was staged at Deauville in 1922, and on this occasion the juvenile legs were run over 1,000 metres. It resumed at Chantilly in 1923, and the split-race format continued until 1929.

The Prix La Rochette was cancelled three times during World War II, in 1939, 1940 and 1944. It was transferred to Longchamp with a new distance of 1,000 metres in 1941, and temporarily switched to Le Tremblay in 1943. In the post-war years it was usually held at Longchamp, but there were short periods at Chantilly (1947, 1,100 metres), Deauville (1955) and Chantilly again (1957–1959).

The distance of the race was progressively increased during the late 1960s. There were brief spells at 1,300 metres (1966–67), 1,400 metres (1968) and 1,500 metres (1969), before a sustained period over 1,600 metres began in 1970.

The Prix La Rochette was restricted to male horses from 1995 to 1999, and it was run at Chantilly from 1997 to 2000. It returned to Longchamp with a length of 1,400 metres in 2001.

Records Leading jockey (8 wins): George Stern – Farnus (1901), Val d'Or (1904), Sidia (1906), Azalee (1908), Dagor (1912), Marka (1912), Mousse de Mer (1913), Banstar (1925)

Leading trainer (10 wins): Robert Denman – Farnus (1901), Gouvernant (1903), Val d'Or (1904), Sidia (1906), Azalee (1908), Dagor (1912), Marka (1912), Mousse de Mer (1913), Banstar (1925), Esclarmonde (1926) François Boutin – Neptunium (1971), Banjer (1973), Le Marmot (1978), Un Reitre (1979), Vorias (1980), Persepolis (1981), L'Emigrant (1982), Pasakos (1987), Linamix (1989), Indian Jones (1994)

Leading owner (10 wins): Edmond Blanc – Marly (1892), Lucie (1899), Farnus (1901), Gouvernant (1903), Val d'Or (1904), Sidia (1906), Azalee (1908), Dagor (1912), Marka (1912), Mousse de Mer (1913)

Winners since 1979 Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time 1979 Un Reitre Philippe Paquet François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 1980 Vorias Philippe Paquet François Boutin Peter Goulandris 1981 Persepolis Philippe Paquet François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 1982 L'Emigrant Lester Piggott François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 1:40.80 1983 Cariellor Yves Saint-Martin André Fabre Suzy Volterra 1984 No Pass No Sale Alfred Gibert Robert Collet René Aubert 1:48.70 1985 Kadrou Alfred Gibert Jean Laumain Henri Rabatel 1986 Grand Chelem Yves Saint-Martin Robert Collet Richard Strauss 1987 Pasakos Freddy Head François Boutin Niccolò Incisa Rocchetta 1988 Local Talent Cash Asmussen André Fabre Sheikh Mohammed 1:43.20 1989 Linamix Gérald Mossé François Boutin Jean-Luc Lagardère 1:41.20 1990 Beau Sultan Freddy Head Criquette Head Ghislaine Head 1:39.30 1991 Steinbeck Steve Cauthen André Fabre Sheikh Mohammed 1:38.90 1992 Kadounor Guy Guignard Jean Laumain Henri Rabatel 1:45.10 1993 Chimes Band Dominique Boeuf Pascal Bary Ecurie I. M. Fares 1:48.90 1994 Indian Jones Cash Asmussen François Boutin Edouard de Rothschild 1:45.70 1995 Le Triton Walter Swinburn Criquette Head Maktoum Al Maktoum 1:46.40 1996 Fine Fellow Freddy Head Criquette Head Maktoum Al Maktoum 1:48.80 1997 Pinmix Alain Junk André Fabre Jean-Luc Lagardère 1:38.80 1998 Slickly Olivier Peslier André Fabre Jean-Luc Lagardère 1:40.10 1999 Ocean of Wisdom Cash Asmussen Pascal Bary Niarchos Family 1:48.50 2000 Okawango Olivier Doleuze Criquette Head Wertheimer et Frère 1:41.45 2001 Guys and Dolls Christophe Soumillon Paul Cole Anthony Speelman 1:21.10 2002 Le Vie dei Colori Thierry Thulliez Roberto Brogi Scuderia Archi Romani 1:21.10 2003 Diamond Green Christophe Soumillon André Fabre Lagardère Family 1:22.50 2004 Early March Olivier Peslier Criquette Head-Maarek Khalid Abdullah 1:22.20 2005 Multiplex Christophe Soumillon André Fabre Khalid Abdullah 1:23.80 2006 Visionario Christophe Soumillon André Fabre HH Aga Khan IV 1:23.80 2007 Young Pretender Frankie Dettori John Gosden Princess Haya of Jordan 1:21.90 2008 Soul City Richard Hughes Richard Hannon Sr. Patrick Fahey 1:22.70 2009 Buzzword Ahmed Ajtebi Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 1:22.83 2010 My Name Is Bond Christophe Soumillon Jean-Claude Rouget Daniel-Yves Trèves 1:20.50 2011 Sofast Olivier Peslier Freddy Head Wertheimer et Frère 1:25.24 2012 What a Name Christophe Lemaire Mikel Delzangles Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani 1:22.07 2013 Karakontie Olivier Peslier Jonathan Pease Niarchos Family 1:22.45 2014 Full Mast Thierry Thulliez Criquette Head-Maarek Khalid Abdullah 1:25.38 2015 Attendu Maxime Guyon Carlos Laffon-Parias Wertheimer et Frère 1:22.74 2016 Kontrastat Theo Bachelot Stephane Wattel Plainfosse / Palos de Moguer 1:25.35 2017 Glorious Journey James Doyle Charlie Appleby HH Sheikha Al Jalila Racing 1:26.42 2018 The Black Album Mickael Barzalona Jane Soubagne Didier Bouquil 1:24.86 2019 Kenway Theo Bachelot Frederic Rossi Le Haras De La Gousserie 1:20.35 2020 Go Athletico Aurelien Lemaitre Philippe Decouz Tanguy Moreux, Sas Racing et al. 1:21.83 2021 Acer Alley Olivier Peslier Francis-Henri Graffard Merry Fox Stud Ltd 1:24.04 2022 Tigrais Aurelien Lemaitre Christopher Head Gerard Augustin-Normand & OTI Racing 1:20.03 2023 Beauvatier Maxime Guyon Yann Barberot Philippe Allaire & Haras D'Etreham 1:22.28 Rainbow Corner finished first in 1991, but he was relegated to second place following a stewards' inquiry.

Yasoodd was first in 2005, but he was placed fourth after a stewards' inquiry.

The 2016 & 2017 races were run at Saint-Cloud while Longchamp was closed for redevelopment.

Earlier winners 1882–1905

1882: Satory 1883: Yvrande 1884: Barberine 1885: Jupin 1886: Arlay 1887: Stuart 1888: Criniere 1889: 1890: Clairon 1891: Chene Royal 1892: Marly 1893: Dolma Baghtche 1894: Montlhery 1895: Brunehilde 1896: Roxelane 1897: Madagascar 1898: Franco-Russe 1899: Lucie 1900: Eryx 1901: Farnus 1902: Reine Margot 1903: Gouvernant 1904: Val d'Or 1905: Sly Fox

1906–1929 (colts' division)

1906: Calomel 1907: Schuyler 1908: Hag to Hag 1909: Ulm 1910: Manfred 1911: Petulance 1912: Dagor 1913: La Farina 1914–17: no race 1918: Observateur 1919: Odol 1920: Arbre Sec 1921: Sombrero 1922: São Paulo 1923: Scaramouche 1924: Lezignan 1925: Banstar 1926: Andorra 1927: Seymour 1928: Rosolio 1929: Pearlash

1906–1929 (fillies' division)

1906: Sidia 1907: Scabieuse 1908: Azalee 1909: Urgulosa 1910: Brume 1911: Qu'elle Est Belle 1912: Marka 1913: Mousse de Mer 1914–17: no race 1918: Stearine 1919: La Chiffa 1920: Farthing 1921: Hyperite 1922: Pomare 1923: Carnation 1924: Canalette 1925: Solette 1926: Esclarmonde 1927: Roahouga 1928: Necklace 1929: Swiss Miss

1930–1978

1930: Pearl Cap 1931: La Bourrasque 1932: Negundo 1933: Cingalaise 1934: Aromate 1935: Mistress Ford 1936: Catherinette 1937: Shrew 1938: Canzoni 1939–40: no race 1941: Esmeralda 1942: Caravelle / Dogat * 1943: Le Volcan 1944: no race 1945: Tourmente 1946: Djelal 1947: Balle Negre 1948: Musette 1949: Janus 1950: La Taglioni 1951: Luzon 1952: Cobalt 1953: Ferriol 1954: Tactic 1955: Belle Epoque 1956: Franc Luron 1957: Nubile 1958: Iadwiga 1959: Hautain 1960: Cocomel 1961: La Sega 1962: Wideawake 1963: Takawalk 1964: Shamirah 1965: Silver Shark 1966: Monatrea 1967: Vent du Nord 1968: Mia Pola 1969: 1970: Dictus 1971: Neptunium 1972: Satingo 1973: Banjer 1974: Dandy Lute 1975: Monsieur Dian 1976: Command Freddy 1977: River Knight 1978: Le Marmot

* The 1942 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.

See also List of French flat horse races Recurring sporting events established in 1882 – this race is included under its original title, Prix Triennal.

References France Galop / Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix La Rochette. galopp-sieger.de – Prix La Rochette (ex Prix Triennal). horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix La Rochette (2016).