Prix Niel Class Group 2 Location Longchamp Racecourse Paris, FranceInaugurated 1864 Race type Flat / Thoroughbred Sponsor Qatar Website france-galop.com Distance 2,400 metres (1½ miles) Surface Turf Track Right-handed Qualification Three-year-olds Weight 58 kgAllowances 1½ kg for fillies Purse €130,000 (2021) 1st: €74,100
Previous years
2024
Blue, white seams, white sleeves, white cap
Dark blue
Silver, gold braid, maroon cap, gold tassel
Sosie
Delius
Look De Vega
2023
Royal blue, large orange spots
dark Green, Pink epaulettes and cap
Emerald green, pink epaulets, white sleeves, pink cap
Fantastic Moon
Feed The Flame
Bravais
2022
Dark Blue, Light Blue hoop and armlets, hooped cap
Red, purple cap
Maroon
Simca Mille
Lassaut
True Testament
2021
Royal blue, red sleeves, quartered cap
dark Green, Pink epaulettes and cap
Yellow and black hoops, white sleeves and cap
Bubble Gift
Baby Rider
Timour
2020-2011
2019
Light green and dark green (halved), dark green sleeves, light green armlets, dark green cap
Black, red hoops on sleeves, red cap
Purple, white seams, striped sleeves, purple cap
Sottsass
Mutamakina
Mohawk
2018
Royal blue
Dark Blue
White, white sleeves, purple cap
Brundtland
Hunting Horn
Neufbosc
2017
Black and White (halved), sleeves reversed, Red cap
Blue, blue sleeves, blue cap
Green, pink epaulettes, white sleeves, pink cap
Cracksman
Avilius
Finche
2016
Black, yellow spiked yoke, royal blue sleeves, black and blue quartered cap, yellow star
Green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves
Silver, gold braid, maroon cap, gold tassel
Makahiki
Midterm
Doha Dream
2015
Green, pink epaulets, white sleeves, pink cap
Pink, white stars on sleeves
Maroon, white spots, striped sleeves and spots on cap
New Bay
Silverwave
Migwar
2014
Silver, gold braid, maroon cap, gold tassel
Red, white epaulets, red cap, white spots
Purple, white seams, striped sleeves, white cap
Ectot
Teletext
Adelaide
2013
Turquoise, red cross sashes, hooped sleeves, turquoise cap, red cross
Dark blue
Maroon, Grey epaulets
Kizuna
Ruler Of The World
Ocovango
2012
Blue, yellow stars, blue sleeves, yellow stars, blue cap
emerald Green, Red epaulettes
Green, pink Epaulets, White sleeves, Pink cap
Saonois
Bayrir
Last Train
2011
White, royal blue stars, royal blue sleeves, royal blue cap, white diamond
Yellow, yellow sleeves, blue cap
Green, red epaulettes, green sleeves, green cap
Reliable Man
Meandre
Vadamar
2010–2001
2010
GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap
Royal Blue, Light Blue cap
Royal blue and yellow check, royal blue sleeves, yellow stars, yellow cap
Behkabad
Planteur
Kidnapping
2009
Beige
GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap
Royal Blue, Light Blue cap
Cavalryman
Carthage
Aizavoski
2008
Dark red and grey stripes, red cap
Green, pink epaulets, white sleeves, pink cap
Yellow, red chevrons, red cap
Vision D'Etat
Ideal World
Centennial
2007
Dark blue
Dark blue, light blue cross belts, striped sleeves, white cap
Green, pink epaulets, white sleeves, pink cap
Soldier Of Fortune
Sagara
Zambezi Sun
2006
Green, pink epaulets, white sleeves, pink cap
Royal blue, white striped sleeves, white cap
Royal Blue, Light Blue cap
Rail Link
Youmzain
Sudan
2005
Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap
Green, pink epaulets, white sleeves, pink cap
Blue, white stars on body, star on cap
Hurricane Run
Runaway
Perfect Hedge
2004
Grey, pink cap
Royal blue, white seams, sleeves and cap
Dark blue, light blue cross belts, striped sleeves, white cap
Valixir
Prospect Park
Bago
2003
GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap
Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star
Royal blue, yellow chevron, yellow cap, royal blue spots
Dalakhani
Doyen
Kris Kin
2002
Dark blue, light blue cross belts, striped sleeves, white cap
Royal blue, white chevron, light blue cap
Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star
Sulamani
Gulf News
Morozov
2001
Pale blue, yellow and white check cap
Blue, white star, white stars on sleeves and cap
White, pink seams, striped cap
Golan
Anabaa Blue
Chichicastenango
2000-1990
2000
GREEN, red epaulettes, green cap
Royal blue, white epaulets, diamonds on sleeves, white cap
Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star
Sinndar
Crimson Quest
Sobieski
1999
Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap
Emerald green, royal blue sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots
Royal blue, light blue sleeves and cap
Montjeu
Bienamado
First Magnitude
1998
Grey, pink cap
Dark green, white chevron and sleeves, white cap, green star
Dark blue, light blue cross sashes, striped sleeves, white cap
Sagamix
Croco Rouge
Dream Well
1997
Pink, royal blue diamonds, striped sleeves and diamond on cap
Royal Blue, Light Blue cap
Red, white star, yellow sleeves, yellow and red hooped cap
Rajpoute
Peintre Celebre
Ivan Luis
1996
Yellow, green epaulets
emerald Green, Red epaulettes
Green, pink epaulettes, white sleeves, pink cap
Helissio
Darazari
Radevore
1995
Grey, pink cap
Royal blue, white seams, sleeves and cap
Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star
Housamix
Poliglote
Winged Love
1994
Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star
Green, white sash, red cap
Green, pink epaulettes, white sleeves, pink cap
Carnegie
Northern Spur
Sunshack
1993
Dark blue, light blue cross sashes, striped sleeves, white cap
Yellow and black hoops, yellow cap
White and violet (quartered), striped sleeves, quartered cap
Hernando
Dernier Empereur
Dancienne
1992
McAlpine tartan, gold armlets and cap
Royal blue, white chevron, light blue cap
Yellow and black hoops, yellow cap
Songlines
Petit Loup
Apple Tree
1991
Black, blue cap
Royal Blue, Light Blue cap
Royal Blue, Light Blue cap
Subotica
Pistolet Bleu
Arcangues
1990
Royal Blue, Light Blue cap
Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star
White, royal blue cross belts and armlets, royal blue cap
Epervier Bleu
Antisaar
Passing Sale
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.
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.[ 1] Due to the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic , 2020 Prix Niel are not run, and are replaced by the Grand Prix de Paris .[ 2]
Leading jockey since 1952 (4 wins):
Yves Saint-Martin – Nelcius (1966), Akarad (1981), Sagace (1983), Mouktar (1985)
Freddy Head – Taj Dewan (1967), Mississipian (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)
^ a b The 2016 and 2017 races took place at Chantilly while Longchamp was closed for redevelopment
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: Mississipian
1975: Anne's Pretender
1976: Youth
1977: Crystal Palace
France Galop / Racing Post :
1979 , 1980 , 1981 , 1982 , 1983 , 1984 , 1985 , 1986 , 1987 , 1988
1989 , 1990 , 1991 , 1992 , 1993 , 1994 , 1995 , 1996 , 1997 , 1998
1999 , 2000 , 2001 , 2002 , 2003 , 2004 , 2005 , 2006 , 2007 , 2008
2009 , 2010 , 2011 , 2012 , 2013 , 2014 , 2015 , 2016 , 2017 , 2018
2019 , 2021 , 2022 , 2023 , 2024