ENGLISH VERSION mare in history to capture The President of the UAE Cup – Coupe d’ Europe des Chevaux Arabes( Gr. 1-PA) on May 10 at ParisLongchamp, Guillaume Guedj-Gay has established himself among the elite riders of Purebred Arabians, and not only them.
Born into racing, as the saying goes in the industry, Guillaume Guedj-Gay has been immersed in the world of horse racing for as long as he can remember. Horses have occupied a central place in his family for three generations. With grandparents who were owners and breeders, a mother, Fanny Guedj, trainer and owner who sadly passed away last year at the age of 58, and a father, Jean-Louis Gay, a former jockey who also became a trainer, it seemed almost inevitable that Guillaume would follow in their footsteps.“ I started my training at the AFASEC school in Gouvieux when I was 15 before joining my mother, who was based in the South- West of France, to complete my second year of training in Mont-de-Marsan.” After spending his first apprenticeship year with Nicolas Caullery, the young teenager joined the stable of Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte. Ten years later, the jockey, who will celebrate his 25 th birthday soon, continues his rise within the same Mont-de- Marsan establishment. Such loyalty and longevity command respect.“ We’ ve been working together for ten years now. I know the stable and the training methods inside out, and we get along very well. My boss trusts me, and I try to repay that trust,” says the yard’ s first jockey.
Victories at the Highest Level After recording his first victory at the age of 16, on March 3, 2017, at Bordeaux-Le Bouscat aboard Stop and Stare,“ an unforgettable moment, like all first wins”, Guillaume Guedj-Gay earned not only the confidence of his trainer but also that of Mansoor Khalil M. Al-Shahwani, the owner of a certain Lacaro du Croate( No Risk Al Maury). On May 10 at ParisLongchamp, Lacaro du Croate became only the third mare in history to defeat the males in The President of the UAE Cup – Coupe d’ Europe des Chevaux Arabes( Gr. 1-PA), one of the most prestigious races on the French Arabian racing calendar.“ I had already won two Group 1 races at Saint-Cloud in 2024, the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains( Gr. 1-PA) aboard Mutaz, and the equivalent race for fillies with Hm Al Zalmaa, but this victory at ParisLongchamp with Lacaro du Croate ranks among the greatest moments of my career.“ She’ s a mare I hadn’ t been able to ride in competition for a long time, but I know her very well from riding her in morning work at home. To reunite with her on race day and win a Group 1 was obviously fantastic. My trainer managed to put me back on her after obtaining the owners’ approval.
She has a great mind, she’ s incredibly tough, and she never gives up.” Lacaro du Croate’ s success is merely a reflection of Guillaume’ s consistent achievements with Purebred Arabians.“ Initially, I never intended to specialize in Purebred Arabian horses, but I’ ve been working for Mr. Thomas- Demeaulte for ten years, and we have many of them in the yard. My Group 1 double at Saint-Cloud two years ago definitely helped put my name on the map. Many trainers now trust me with Arabians, but also with thoroughbreds.” The numbers back that up in 2026. Of the 20 winners he had ridden by May 28, 10 had come aboard thoroughbreds. Although he mainly rides for trainers based in south-western France, Radiant( City Light) gave him the opportunity to compete in this year’ s Emirates Poule d’ Essai des Poulains( Gr. 1), held on the same day as his Group 1 triumph at ParisLongchamp. His seventh-place finish in the French 2,000 Guineas was an encouraging performance for the three-year-old trained in the provinces by the in-form Sandrine Gavilan.
Names to Remember Satisfied with what he describes as a“ good start to the season,” Guillaume Guedj-Gay prefers not to set himself too many goals. However, he hopes to compete in more top-class races, perhaps with Nehmo de Carrère( Af Albahar), a promising three-year-old who won
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