British races in new feeder series for Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris

France Galop and sponsors Juddmonte have moved to raise the profile of the Grand Prix de Paris by announcing a series of qualifying races which they hope will lead to a higher calibre of entry.

One of the most historic names in the French racing calendar, the Grand Prix de Paris was upped to a mile and a half and moved to its current slot on July 14 in 2005 as part of the reorganisation which resulted from the cut in distance to the Prix du Jockey Club.

In just the second year of the new format Rail Link doubled up in the Arc but, while recent Grand Prix winners Flintshire, Erupt and Kew Gardens have all gone on to earn further Group 1 accolades, the race has not always lived up to its €600,000 worth.

Flintshire won the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris in 2013Credit: Scoop Dyga

Under the new 'Grand Free Pass' system, slots will be reserved in the potential line-up for the winners of the Chester Vase, Lingfield Derby Trial, Dante and King Edward VII Stakes, as well as the Prix du Lys and Prix Hocquart.

Along with the first three home in the Derby and Prix du Jockey Club, their connections will have their entry fee refunded if already signed up for the race, while France Galop will waive the supplementary fee if a qualifying horse was not pre-entered in mid-February.

Knight To Behold beats Kew Gardens in the Lingfield Derby TrialCredit: Mark Cranham

ROAD TO JUDDMONTE GRAND PRIX DE PARIS (July 14, Longchamp)

May 8 Chester Vase (Chester)
May 11 Derby Trial (Lingfield)
May 16 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (York)
May 26 Prix du Lys (Longchamp)
June 1 Investec Derby (Epsom) first three
June 2 Qipco Prix du Jockey Club (Chantilly) first three
June 16 Prix Hocquart Longines (Chantilly)
June 21 King Edward VII Stakes (Ascot)

In a further measure to make the race a more attractive midsummer target for later-maturing three-year-olds, the cost of supplementing has been slashed from €43,200 to €15,000.

Explaining the rationale behind the measures, France Galop president Edouard de Rothschild said: "The Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris has been, since the creation of Longchamp, a symbol of excellence for our breeding on the world stage. This first incentive is part of wider measures aimed at making the Juddmonte Grand Prix a more attractive race and reinforcing its rating."

France Galop is constrained in terms of the amount it can increase prize-money for the race by the original deal done through the European Pattern Committee as part of the 2005 programme reorganisation.

Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms has sponsored the Group 1 since 2001 and racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: "Juddmonte is excited by these new initiatives which France Galop have put in place. We very much hope they will enhance the rating and elevate the quality of the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris."

The winner will also gain automatic entry to the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, a potential saving to connections of €120,000.

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