French Flag on Pole
by: Racing EditorPosted on:

Grand Prix de Paris – Aidan O’Brien to Top Podium for a Sixth Time?

Coming hot on the heels of the Newmarket July Festival, Sunday afternoon sees an inevitable dip on the domestic racing front. While competitive, the cards on offer at Southwell, Perth, and Stratford don’t come close to matching the action on the July Course. However, all is not lost for those seeking a Group 1 fix, as Sunday evening sees one of the most prestigious 1m4f events of the French season take place at Longchamp.

The Prix du Jockey Club is widely referred to as the “French Derby.” However, Sunday’s highlight of the Grand Prix de Paris is a more direct equivalent to the British Classic. At 1m4f (as opposed to the 1m2f of the Prix du Jockey Club), the trip exactly matches that of the Epsom showstopper and regularly attracts runners who lined up at the Surrey track in June.

Such is the case in the 2025 edition of the Bastille Day highlight, with the small but select field including Epsom Derby fourth, New Ground. Also in contention is an improving runner from the yard of a trainer who knows all about international Group 1 success.

O’Brien’s Grand Prix Stars

Few nations have managed to resist the rise of Aidan O’Brien on the biggest stage. Boasting more Group/Grade 1 wins than any trainer in history, O’Brien’s global tour has encompassed victories in 11 different countries.

Over the years, France has proven to be a particularly happy hunting ground for the Ballydoyle supremo. Striking his first French blow with Second Empire in the 1997 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, O’Brien now has a massive 65 major French wins to his name – headlined by Dylan Thomas (2007) and Found (2020) in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Focusing on the Grand Prix de Paris, the following stars made the trip to the French capital and returned home with the trophy:

  • Scorpion (2005) – Beaten by the Andre Fabre-trained Hurricane Run when a close second in the Irish Derby, this Montjeu colt gave the French a taste of their own medicine when storming to a 2½-length success in this event. Adding the St. Leger Stakes and Coronation Cup to his haul, Scorpion is now a successful National Hunt sire
  • Imperial Monarch (2012) – Having landed the Sandow Derby Trial, Imperial Monarch had his first crack at a French Group 1 in the Prix du Jockey Club. His chance was ended when denied a clear run that day, but he made amends when clinging on by a head in this contest
  • Kew Gardens (2018) – One of the lesser-fancied O’Brien runners in the 2018 Epsom Derby, Kew Gardens was all at sea on the undulations. However, he bounced right back with a strong staying triumph in the 1m6f Queen’s Vase. That effort saw the Galileo colt sent off as the 7/5f for his French assignment. Confidently ridden by Ryan Moore, he swept home late for a cosy 1¼-length victory. Like Scorpion, Kew Gardens grabbed Classic gold in the St. Leger
  • Japan (2019) – Having finished third in a blanket finish in the Epsom Derby and slammed the field in the King Edward VII Stakes, Japan started as the red-hot favourite in 2019. Sent off at odds of 1/2, he was only half a length clear at the line, but that margin did scant justice to his superiority. Racing on as a four and five-year-old, he picked up three more wins, headlined by the 2019 edition of the Juddmonte International Stakes
  • Mogul (2020) – Sired by Galileo and out of the dam Shastye, Mogul is a full-brother to Japan and showed a very similar level of ability at the track. Only sixth in the behind-closed-doors Derby, he claimed the Gordon Stakes before finishing 2½l clear of the field in this event. His final win came when bagging over £1 million for connections in the Hong Kong Vase

Trinity College Next on the List?

From a raft of potential Ballydoyle contenders, Trinity College is the colt tasked with claiming the big race in 2025. By Dubawi and out of the English and Irish 1000 Guineas winner Hermosa, he makes plenty of appeal on paper.

Ending 2024 with only a maiden win from five outings, he didn’t immediately live up to that pedigree potential. However, he appears a much-improved performer at three. Having finished an unlucky second in the Blue Riband Derby Trial, he finished a solid fourth in the Prix du Jockey Club before breaking his Group-race duck in the Hampton Court Stakes. Stepping up in trip and class demands more, but it would be no surprise to see him pass his toughest assignment to date.