The Prix Imprudence is a Group 3 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run over a distance of 1,400 metres (about 7 furlongs) at Deauville in April.
History The event is named after Imprudence, a successful French-trained filly whose victories included three Classics in 1947. It was established in 1949, and was originally contested over a mile. It was cut to its present length in 1961.
For a period the Prix Imprudence held Listed status. It was promoted to Group 3 level in 2009. It is currently staged on the same day as the Prix Djebel, the equivalent race for colts.
The Prix Imprudence can serve as a trial for various fillies' Classics in Europe. The last winner to achieve victory in the 1,000 Guineas was Natagora in 2008 and the last to win the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches was Ervedya in 2015.
Records Leading jockey since 1979 (10 wins): Freddy Head – Ma Biche (1983), L'Orangerie (1984), Vilikaia (1985), Or Vision (1986), Miesque (1987), Lightning Fire (1989), Kenbu (1992), Macoumba (1995), Mahalia (1996), Pas de Reponse (1997)
Leading trainer since 1979 (10 wins): Criquette Head-Maarek – Ma Biche (1983), L'Orangerie (1984), Vilikaia (1985), Ravinella (1988), Macoumba (1995), Mahalia (1996), Pas de Reponse (1997), Cortona (1998), Stunning (2001), Magic America (2007)
Leading owner since 1979 (5 wins): Stavros Niarchos – Firyal (1980), Or Vision (1986), Miesque (1987), Lightning Fire (1989), Coup de Genie (1994)
Winners since 1979 Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time 1979 Pitasia Alfred Gibert Aage Paus Sir Douglas Clague 1:37.00 1980 Firyal Philippe Paquet François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 1981 Layalina Alfred Gibert Mitri Saliba Mahmoud Fustok 1982 Play It Safe Lester Piggott François Boutin Diana Firestone 1983 Ma Biche Freddy Head Criquette Head Maktoum Al Maktoum 1984 L'Orangerie Freddy Head Criquette Head Robert Sangster 1985 Vilikaia Freddy Head Criquette Head Robert Sangster 1986 Or Vision Freddy Head François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 1987 Miesque Freddy Head François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 1:33.40 1988 Ravinella Gary W. Moore Criquette Head Ecurie Aland 1:30.80 1989 Lightning Fire Freddy Head François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 1990 Cydalia Gérald Mossé François Boutin Ecurie Skymarc Farm 1991 The Perfect Life Eric Saint-Martin Robert Collet Richard Strauss 1:25.70 1992 Kenbu Freddy Head François Boutin Tomohiro Wada 1:27.90 1993 Wixon Cash Asmussen François Boutin Allen Paulson 1:31.90 1994 Coup de Genie Cash Asmussen François Boutin Stavros Niarchos 1:32.30 1995 Macoumba Freddy Head Criquette Head Haras d'Etreham 1:20.51 1996 Mahalia Freddy Head Criquette Head Gerry Oldham 1:17.96 1997 Pas de Reponse Freddy Head Criquette Head Wertheimer et Frère 1:30.90 1998 Cortona Olivier Doleuze Criquette Head Gerry Oldham 1:36.00 1999 Blue Cloud Olivier Peslier André Fabre Daniel Wildenstein 1:27.70 2000 Peony Cash Asmussen Dominique Sépulchre Mrs John Moore 1:26.92 2001 Stunning Olivier Doleuze Criquette Head-Maarek Robert Clay 1:33.30 2002 Glia Thierry Thulliez Pascal Bary Niarchos Family 1:27.30 2003 Six Perfections Thierry Thulliez Pascal Bary Niarchos Family 1:29.40 2004 Onda Nova Stéphane Pasquier Dominique Sépulchre Niarchos Family 1:32.20 2005 Valima Christophe Soumillon André Fabre HH Aga Khan IV 1:30.40 2006 Mauralakana Ioritz Mendizabal Jean-Claude Rouget Maurice Hassan 1:30.20 2007 Magic America Johnny Murtagh Criquette Head-Maarek Tony Ryan 1:24.50 2008 Natagora Christophe Lemaire Pascal Bary Stefan Friborg 1:29.90 2009 Elusive Wave Christophe Lemaire Jean-Claude Rouget Martin Schwartz 1:23.60 2010 Joanna Christophe Soumillon Jean-Claude Rouget Hamdan Al Maktoum 1:28.60 2011 Moonlight Cloud Davy Bonilla Freddy Head George Strawbridge 1:26.10 2012 Mashoora Christophe Soumillon Jean-Claude Rouget Hamdan Al Maktoum 1:26.50 2013 What a Name Christophe Lemaire Mikel Delzangles Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani 1:26.67 2014 Xcellence Cristian Demuro François Doumen Henri de Pracotmal 1:27.40 2015 Ervedya Christophe Soumillon Jean-Claude Rouget HH Aga Khan 1:28.27 2016 Spectre Pierre-Charles Boudot Markus Munch MM Racing 1:27.60 2017 Via Ravenna Vincent Cheminaud André Fabre Haras de Saint Pair 1:25.80 2018 Couer De Beaute Stéphane Pasquier Mauricio Delcher-Sanchez Ahmed Mouknass 1:30.35 2019 Watch Me Christophe Soumillon Francis-Henri Graffard Tamagni-Bodmer / Vannod 1:28.09 2020 not held 2021 Reina Madre Christophe Soumillon Mauricio Delcher Sanchez Yeguada Centurion SL 1:25.12 2022 Malavath Christophe Soumillon Francis-Henri Graffard Everest Racing, David Redvers & Mrs Barbara M Keller 1:32.252023ShowayAnthony CrastusPatrice CottierGousserie Racing1:27.822024Romantic StyleWilliam BuickCharlie ApplebyGodolphin1:31.952025Better TogetherAlexis PouchinAndre FabreJuddmonte1:24.25 2026 Showna Marvin Grandin Satoshi Kobayashi Guy Pariente Holding & S Kobayashi 1:19.66
Earlier winners
1953: Cabriole 1954: Bethora 1955: Reinata 1956: Cigalon 1957: Fidgety 1958: Bella Paola 1959: Paraguana 1960: Never Too Late 1961: Solitude 1962: Monade 1963: Hula Dancer 1964: Texanita 1966: Miliza 1965: Clear River 1967: Fix the Date 1968: Salade Chinoise 1969: Mismaloya 1970: Balsane 1971: Pomme Rose 1972: Arosa 1973: Libelinha 1974: Lianga 1975: Girl Friend 1976: Guichet 1977: Flota Armada 1978: Best Girl
See also List of French flat horse races
References
France Galop / Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
france-galop.com – A Brief History: Prix Imprudence. galopp-sieger.de – Prix Imprudence. horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Prix Imprudence (2019). pedigreequery.com – Prix Imprudence – Maisons-Laffitte.