The Critérium International is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 1,600 metres (1 mile), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late October or early November.

History The event was established at Saint-Cloud in 2001, when it was introduced as part of a restructured program for juveniles in France and replaced the Prix de la Salamandre which was discontinued in 2000. It was given the same title as a race held annually at Longchamp from 1893 to 1910. The modern race was originally run over 1,600 furlongs but was reduced to 1,400 metres in 2015 as part of a series of changes to autumn races for two-year-olds. In 2018 the race was transferred from Saint-Cloud to Longchamp. The distance returned to 1,600 metres in 2020 as part of a two-year trial. The race returned to Saint-Cloud in 2020 and continues to be run there as of 2025.

The current version of the Critérium International often features horses which ran previously in the Prix des Chênes or the Prix Thomas Bryon.

Records Leading jockey (5 wins): Christophe Soumillon – Dalakhani (2002), Carlotamix (2005), Thunder Snow (2016), Royal Meeting (2018), Puerto Rico (2025)

Leading trainer (7 wins): Aidan O'Brien – Mount Nelson (2006), Jan Vermeer (2009), Roderic O'Connor (2010), Johannes Vermeer (2015), Van Gogh (2020), Twain (2024), Puerto Rico (2025)

Leading owner (7 wins): (includes part ownership) Sue Magnier / Derrick Smith / Michael Tabor – Mount Nelson (2006), Jan Vermeer (2009), Roderic O'Connor (2010), Johannes Vermeer (2015), Van Gogh (2020), Twain (2024), Puerto Rico (2025)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time 2001 Act One Thierry Gillet Jonathan Pease Gerald Leigh 1:47.10 2002 Dalakhani Christophe Soumillon Alain de Royer-Dupré HH Aga Khan IV 1:52.00 2003 Bago Thierry Gillet Jonathan Pease Niarchos Family 1:47.00 2004 Helios Quercus Alexandre Roussel Cyriaque Diard Thierry Maudet 1:45.30 2005 Carlotamix Christophe Soumillon André Fabre HH Aga Khan IV 1:45.40 2006 Mount Nelson Seamie Heffernan Aidan O'Brien Smith / Tabor / Magnier 1:41.30 2007 Thewayyouare Stéphane Pasquier André Fabre Sean Mulryan 1:45.30 2008 Zafisio Dominique Boeuf Paul Blockley Hugh Downs 1:46.10 2009 Jan Vermeer Colm O'Donoghue Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier 1:45.60 2010 Roderic O'Connor Johnny Murtagh Aidan O'Brien Magnier / Tabor et al. 1:45.70 2011 French Fifteen Thierry Thulliez Nicolas Clément Raymond Tooth 1:43.50 2012 Loch Garman Kevin Manning Jim Bolger Mrs J. S. Bolger 1:52.70 2013 Ectot Grégory Benoist Élie Lellouche G Augustin-Normand & E Vidal 1:43.11 2014 Vert De Grece Umberto Rispoli Roger Varian Britannia Thoroughbreds 1 1:43.16 2015 Johannes Vermeer Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier / Ah Khing 1:30.15 2016 Thunder Snow Christophe Soumillon Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 1:28.20 2017 no race 2018 Royal Meeting Christophe Soumillon Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 1:27.19 2019 Alson Frankie Dettori Jean-Pierre Carvalho Gestüt Schlenderhan 1:28.61 2020 Van Gogh Pierre-Charles Boudot Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier / Ah Khing 1:48.31 2021 Angel Bleu Frankie Dettori Ralph Beckett Marc Chan 1:44.40 2022 Proud And Regal Gavin Ryan Donnacha O'Brien Smith / Tabor / Magnier 1:51:34 2023 Sunway Oisin Murphy David Menuisier Pariente, Lines, Qatar 1:46.32 2024 Twain Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien Tabor / Smith / Magnier 1:46.31 2025 Puerto Rico Christophe Soumillon Aidan O'Brien Magnier / Tabor / Smith 1:41.85

Longchamp 1893–1910 The original Critérium International at Longchamp was also for two-year-olds. It was contested on a straight track over 1,100 metres. It was held on the first or second Saturday in October. The prize money was 25,000 francs (equivalent to €78,500).

1893: Bayadere 1894: Fragola 1895: Hero 1896: Atys 1897: Cazabat 1898: Perth 1899: Semendria 1900: Pierre Infernale 1901: Derbouka 1902: Mireille 1903: Gouvernant 1904: Jardy 1905: Blue Fly 1906: Calomel 1907: Halima 1908: Azalee 1909: Marsa 1910: Blina

See also List of French flat horse races

References

Le Figaro: 1893, 1894, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910 Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,