Gran Criterium
Encyclopedia
The Gran Criterium is a Group 1
flat
horse race
in Italy
which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred
colts
and fillies
. It is run at San Siro, Milan
, over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.
It is the only Group 1 race in Italy for juvenile horses. Past winners include Nearco
(1937) and Ribot
(1954).
The 2008 running was cancelled because of a strike in the Italian horse racing industry.
Conditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
flat
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
horse race
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
colts
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
and fillies
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
. It is run at San Siro, Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile), and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.
It is the only Group 1 race in Italy for juvenile horses. Past winners include Nearco
Nearco
Nearco was an Italian bred Thoroughbred racehorse described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." He was not only unbeaten, winning 14 races at distances from 5 furlongs to 1 mile 7 furlongs ,...
(1937) and Ribot
Ribot (horse)
Ribot was an Italian bay Thoroughbred racehorse, considered the strongest horse of all time.Undefeated in 16 races, he won over distances ranging from 5 furlongs to 1m 7f , in three different countries and in all types of track conditions...
(1954).
Winners since 1988
| Year |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
| 1988 | Sikeston | Gianfranco Dettori Gianfranco Dettori Gianfranco Dettori is an Italian retired Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.Dettori was born in Serramanna, in what is now the Medio Campidano, Sardinia. During his career, he won an Italian riding championship thirteen times... |
John Dunlop John L. Dunlop John L. Dunlop is a successful race horse trainer based in Arundel, Sussex, with over 3000 winners between 1966 and 2002.He was the British flat racing Champion Trainer in 1995.... |
Allevamento White Star Luciano Gaucci Luciano Gaucci is an Italian entrepreneur and sportsman. He was the owner of various clubs:* Perugia Calcio, a football club based in Perugia, Umbria.* Viterbese Calcio, a football club based in Viterbo, Lazio.* S.S... |
1:44.2 |
| 1989 | Candy Glen | Guy Guignard | Chris Wall | Antonio Balzarini | 1:39.1 |
| 1990 | Steamer Duck | Guy Guignard | Criquette Head Criquette Head-Maarek Christiane "Criquette" Head is considered to be the leading female racehorse trainer in the world.Known as Criquette, she was born into the Thoroughbred horse racing business... |
Maktoum Al Maktoum Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also referred to as Sheikh Maktoum was the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the emir of Dubai.-Biography:... |
1:47.7 |
| 1991 | Alhijaz | Lester Piggott Lester Piggott Lester Keith Piggott is a retired English professional jockey, popularly known as "The Long Fellow". With 4,493 career wins, including nine Epsom Derby victories, he is one of the most well-known English flat racing jockeys of all time.... |
John Dunlop John L. Dunlop John L. Dunlop is a successful race horse trainer based in Arundel, Sussex, with over 3000 winners between 1966 and 2002.He was the British flat racing Champion Trainer in 1995.... |
Prince A. A. Faisal | 1:42.4 |
| 1992 | Pelder | Santiago Soto | Luciano d'Auria | Lady M Stable | 1:47.6 |
| 1993 | Torrismondo | Richard Quinn | Paul Cole Paul Cole Paul F. I. Cole is a British racehorse trainer. Since 1987 he has been based at Whatcombe Estate in Oxfordshire, the former stables of Dick Dawson and Arthur Budgett.... |
Lord Portman | 1:50.7 |
| 1994 | Golden Glenstal | Mario Esposito Mario Esposito Mario Esposito was an Irish-born scholar who specialised in Hiberno-Latin studies.He was born in Dublin, the third of four children of Michele Esposito, an Italian, and Natalia Klebnikoff who hailed from St Petersburg. Michele was an influential music professor at the Royal Irish Academy of Music... |
Giuliano Fratini | Scuderia Golden Horse | 1:48.0 |
| 1995 | Glory of Dancer | Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier is a thoroughbred horse racing jockey.Peslier competes in flat racing mainly in France but travels often around the world for the big international races.... |
Fabio Brogi | Scuderia General Horse | 1:39.1 |
| 1996 | Hello | Fernando Jovine | John Dunlop John L. Dunlop John L. Dunlop is a successful race horse trainer based in Arundel, Sussex, with over 3000 winners between 1966 and 2002.He was the British flat racing Champion Trainer in 1995.... |
Philip Wroughton | 1:44.6 |
| 1997 | Lend a Hand | Jason Weaver Jason Weaver (jockey) Jason Weaver is a former British flat racing jockey who had much of his major success in the mid 1990s. In total, Weaver rode more than 1,000 winners in a career which spanned fourteen years.-Biography:... |
Mark Johnston | Maktoum Al Maktoum Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also referred to as Sheikh Maktoum was the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the emir of Dubai.-Biography:... |
1:37.2 |
| 1998 | Noble Pearl | Stephen Davies | Wilfried Kujath | Stall Haferkasten | 1:43.3 |
| 1999 | Night Style | Gary Carter | Ed Dunlop | Mohammed Jaber | 1:37.3 |
| 2000 | Count Dubois | Basil Marcus | William Haggas | Wentworth Racing Ltd | 1:44.7 |
| 2001 | Sholokhov | Michael Kinane Michael Kinane Michael J. Kinane is a former flat racing jockey. He had a 34-year career, retiring on 8 December 2009.... |
Aidan O'Brien Aidan O'Brien Aidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates.... |
Magnier / Tabor Michael Tabor Michael B. Tabor is a businessman and owner of Thoroughbred racehorses.-Thoroughbred racing career:... |
1:45.8 |
| 2002 | Spartacus | Michael Kinane Michael Kinane Michael J. Kinane is a former flat racing jockey. He had a 34-year career, retiring on 8 December 2009.... |
Aidan O'Brien Aidan O'Brien Aidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates.... |
Sue Magnier | 1:44.5 |
| 2003 | Pearl of Love | Darryll Holland Darryll Holland Darryll Paul Holland is a United Kingdom flat racing jockey who has ridden for trainers such as Luca Cumani, Geoff Wragg, and Mark Johnston.... |
Mark Johnston | Mick Doyle | 1:40.1 |
| 2004 | Königstiger | Filip Minarik | Peter Schiergen Peter Schiergen Peter Schiergen is a former German champion jockey and a Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.- Horse trainer :Schiergen trained Boreal, winner of the 2001 Coronation Cup.... |
Gestüt Schlenderhan | 1:42.3 |
| 2005 | Lateral | William Mongil | Peter Schiergen Peter Schiergen Peter Schiergen is a former German champion jockey and a Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.- Horse trainer :Schiergen trained Boreal, winner of the 2001 Coronation Cup.... |
Stiftung Gestüt Fährhof | 1:42.7 |
| 2006 | Kirklees | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
Mark Johnston | Sheikh Mohammed Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also Sheikh Mohammed, , is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates , and absolute monarch of Dubai.-Personal life and education:... |
1:39.9 |
| 2007 | Scintillo Scintillo Scintillo is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse which raced out of the United Kingdom. At the age two the colt won the Gran Criterium Group 1. Following an average three year old season he, like his sire, came into his own as a four year old, winning several significant contests. These include... |
Ryan Moore | Richard Hannon Richard Hannon Richard Hannon is a British horse trainer based in East Everleigh Stables, Marlborough, Wiltshire.Hannon's family has a tradition of horse training—his father was also a horse trainer, his son Richard is currently the assistant trainer, and his son-in-law Richard Hughes is the stable jockey. ... |
White Beech Farm | 1:38.2 |
| no race 2008 | |||||
| 2009 | Hearts of Fire | Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier Olivier Peslier is a thoroughbred horse racing jockey.Peslier competes in flat racing mainly in France but travels often around the world for the big international races.... |
Pat Eddery Pat Eddery Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:... |
Pat Eddery Racing | 1:38.9 |
| 2010 | Biondetti | Ahmed Ajtebi | Mahmood Al Zarooni | Godolphin | 1:41.5 |
| 2011 | Nayarra | Martin Dwyer Martin Dwyer Martin Dwyer is an English Derby winning flat racing jockey having won the 2006 Vodafone Derby upon Sir Percy. This was his second classic success after winning the Epsom Oaks aboard Casual Look in 2003... |
Mick Channon Mick Channon Michael Roger "Mick" Channon is a sportsman who enjoyed a career as a striker with Southampton and England in the 1970s and later became a hugely successful racehorse trainer.-Southampton:... |
Prince A. A. Faisal | 1:35.7 |
The 2008 running was cancelled because of a strike in the Italian horse racing industry.