This Sunday, September 15, ParisLongchamp Racecourse will host the Qatar Prix Vermeille, a France Galop Group 1 race run over 1 1/2 miles (about 2,414 meters). It is a key stepping stone ahead of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, scheduled for October 6. This annual event gathers the best fillies and mares from around the world, testing both speed and stamina on the prestigious Parisian track. On the same day, two other Arc trials will also be run over the same 1 1/2-mile distance: the Prix Niel (Gr.2) for three-year-old colts and the Prix Foy (Gr.2) for older horses, forming part of the Qatar Arc Trials.
A Statistical Look Back at the 2023 Qatar Prix Vermeille
Last year, Warm Heart made a lasting impression with a victory in 2:31.29, thanks to a decisive acceleration in the final 200 meters, which she covered in 11.51 seconds. Having settled in third position, she bided her time before surging ahead of the pack, reaching a top speed of 43.6 mph as she crossed the finish line in first place.
Close behind her, Melo Melo finished in second, just a fraction behind, with a time of 2:31.33. Though consistent throughout the race, her slightly slower final sprint couldn’t match the pace set by Warm Heart.
Taking third place, Sea Silk Road came from the back of the pack. She was positioned near the rear but managed to unleash a strong acceleration in the final 200 meters, moving from seventh to third with an impressive closing burst.
Pensée du Jour was the disappointment of the 2023 race. Leading for much of the contest, she set the fastest times for the first five furlongs, only to fade dramatically in the final stages. Despite her early dominance, she dropped from first to seventh, unable to fend off the late challenges from her rivals. However, the filly, trained by renowned French trainer André Fabre, bounced back from this setback to win a Group 2 race in May — the Prix Corrida, run over 1 5/16 miles at Saint-Cloud.
Looking Ahead to the 2024 Edition
As we approach the 2024 Qatar Prix Vermeille, attention now turns to the new contenders vying for victory on this demanding course. As in previous editions, speed management and the ability to accelerate in the final stages will be key to success. Among the fillies to watch is Survie, trained by Nicolas Clément. Runner-up in the Prix de Diane Longines in June, she followed up with a win in the Prix de Malleret (Gr.2) less than a month later. One of the few French-trained mares in the field, Survie is well-positioned to challenge for the top prize in this year’s Qatar Prix Vermeille.
Chloé Humbert
Crédit photo : Scoop Dyga
The tracking race report of 2023 Qatar Prix Vermeille is available here : https://www7.france-galop.com/Casaques/Tracking//20230910LON05_last_times_fr.pdf
