The Prix de la Grotte is a Group 3 flat horse race open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies in France. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at Longchamp in April.

History The event was established in 1889 and was initially open to colts and fillies aged three or older. Its format varied during the early part of its history.

The modern version of the Prix de la Grotte was introduced in 1952. From this point, it was restricted to three-year-old fillies and was initially contested over 1,600 metres. It was designed to serve as a trial for the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.

The race's distance was modified several times during the 1960s. It was run over 1,400 metres (1965), 1,300 metres (1966) and 1,500 metres (1967) before reverting to 1,600 metres in 1968.

Several modern Prix de la Grotte winners have won the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. The first was Apollonia in 1956; the most recent was Zarigana in 2025.

Records Leading jockey since 1952 (7 wins): Yves Saint-Martin – La Sega (1962), Felicia (1963), Mirna (1964), Tonnera (1966), Pola Bella (1968), Koblenza (1969), Captive Island (1985)

Leading trainer since 1952 (8 wins): André Fabre – Houseproud (1990), Baya (1993), Flagbird (1994), Grey Lilas (2004), Anna Silai (2010), Golden Lilac (2011), Mexican Gold (2015), Tropbeau (2020)

Leading owner since 1952 (5 wins): Nelson Bunker Hunt – Gazala (1967), Pampered Miss (1970), Dahlia (1973), Nobiliary (1975), Hartebeest (1977)

Winners since 1980 Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time 1980 Aryenne Maurice Philipperon John Fellows D. G. Volkert 1:39.70 1981 Tropicaro Alain Lequeux Maurice Zilber Benjamin Coates 1982 River Lady Lester Piggott François Boutin Robert Sangster 1983 Mysterieuse Etoile Alfred Gibert Mitri Saliba Mahmoud Fustok 1984 Treizieme Lester Piggott Maurice Zilber Thomas Tatham 1985 Captive Island Yves Saint-Martin Robert Collet Robert Sangster 1986 Northern Premier Cash Asmussen Georges Mikhalidès Mahmoud Fustok 1987 Sakura Reiko Tony Cruz Patrick Biancone Enshoku Zen 1:39.60 1988 Silver Lane Cash Asmussen Maurice Zilber Mahmoud Fustok 1:37.90 1989 Keniant Gary W. Moore Patrick Biancone Daniel Wildenstein 1:44.80 1990 Houseproud Pat Eddery André Fabre Khalid Abdullah 1:47.30 1991 Danseuse du Soir Dominique Boeuf Élie Lellouche Daniel Wildenstein 1:46.20 1992 Absurde Freddy Head François Boutin Chryss Goulandris 1:41.90 1993 Baya Thierry Jarnet André Fabre Sheikh Mohammed 1:45.10 1994 Flagbird Thierry Jarnet André Fabre Sheikh Mohammed 1:38.00 1995 Matiara Freddy Head Criquette Head Ecurie Aland 1:48.40 1996 Shake The Yoke Dominique Boeuf Élie Lellouche Serge Brunswick 1:36.70 1997 Always Loyal Freddy Head Criquette Head Maktoum Al Maktoum 1:41.30 1998 Zalaiyka Gérald Mossé Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 1:50.90 1999 Venize Olivier Peslier Robert Collet Arne Larsson 1:47.20 2000 Lady of Chad Gérald Mossé Richard Gibson John Martin 1:51.50 2001 Quarter Note Yutaka Take Henri-Alex Pantall Sheikh Mohammed 1:50.30 2002 Sophisticat Jamie Spencer Aidan O'Brien Magnier / Tabor 1:40.40 2003 Maiden Tower Christophe Lemaire Henri-Alex Pantall Sheikh Mohammed 1:48.80 2004 Grey Lilas Gary Stevens André Fabre Gestüt Ammerland 1:38.40 2005 Divine Proportions Christophe Lemaire Pascal Bary Niarchos Family 1:42.10 2006 Daltaya Christophe Soumillon Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 1:38.30 2007 Darjina Christophe Soumillon Alain de Royer-Dupré Zahra Aga Khan 1:38.40 2008 Zarkava Christophe Soumillon Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 1:44.70 2009 Tamazirte Christophe Lemaire Jean-Claude Rouget Vallée Martigny / Rabineau 1:42.78 2010 Anna Salai Maxime Guyon André Fabre Godolphin 1:38.33 2011 Golden Lilac Maxime Guyon André Fabre Gestüt Ammerland 1:43.62 2012 Beauty Parlour Christophe Soumillon Élie Lellouche Ecurie Wildenstein 1:37.82 2013 Kenhope Thierry Jarnet Henri-Alex Pantall Guy Pariente 1:50.73 2014 Lesstalk In Paris Christophe Soumillon Jean-Claude Rouget SARL 1:50.64 2015 Mexican Gold Vincent Cheminaud André Fabre Khalid Abdullah 1:37.98 2016 Qemah Gregory Benoist Jean-Claude Rouget Al Shaqab Racing 1:38.14 2017 Senga Stéphane Pasquier Pascal Bary Flaxman Stables Ireland 1:40.30 2018 Musis Amica Mickael Barzalona André Fabre Godolphin 1:46.85 2019 Castle Lady Mickael Barzalona Henri-Alex Pantall Godolphin 1:38.39 2020 Tropbeau Mickael Barzalona André Fabre Lady Bamford 1:40.78 2021 Cirona Maxime Guyon Christophe Ferland Ecurie Waldeck 1:43.71 2022 Rosacea Mickael Barzalona Stephane Wattel Haras De La Perelle 1:38.58 2023 Blue Rose Cen Aurélien Lemaitre Christopher Head Yeguada Centurion SL 1:45.07 2024 Candala Mickael Barzalona Francis-Henri Graffard HH Aga Khan IV 1:44.21 2025 Zarigana Mickael Barzalona Francis-Henri Graffard Exors of HH Aga Khan IV 1:40.60 2026 Evolutionist Shane Foley Karl Burke Forz Europe Ltd 1:38.19

Earlier winners

1952: Devinette 1954: Baghicheh 1955: Myriade 1956: Apollonia 1957: Epine Doree 1958: Reluisante 1959: Fiorenza 1960: Sly Pola 1961: Mopsy 1962: La Sega 1963: Felicia 1964: Mirna 1965: Clear River 1966: Tonnera 1967: Gazala 1968: Pola Bella 1969: Koblenza 1970: Pampered Miss 1971: Bold Fascinator 1972: If 1973: Dahlia 1974: Paddy's Princess 1975: Nobiliary 1976: Riverqueen 1977: Hartebeest 1978: Tayyara 1979: Nonoalca

See also List of French flat horse races

References

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

france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix de la Grotte. galop.courses-france.com – Prix de la Grotte – Palmarès depuis 1980. galopp-sieger.de – Prix de la Grotte. ifhaonline.org – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix de la Grotte (2019). pedigreequery.com – Prix de la Grotte – Longchamp.