ENGLISH TEXTS
“ He is genuine, never flashy.” Those are the words of Willie Mullins about State Man, a superstar in his discipline. After suffering brutal falls at Aintree and another equally disheartening one this year at Cheltenham, the 8-year-old horse came back stronger than ever to claim his twelfth Group 1 victory in the 2025 Boodles Champion Hurdle at Punchestown, his third consecutive title. Only the legendary Hurricane Fly has done better, with four consecutive wins in the early 2010s. Bred by M. L. Bloodstock, this son of Doctor Dino finished second in the Prix Wild Monarch( Listed) on his debut at Auteuil under the training of Daniela Melé, before being sold to Mrs. Donnelly. He also won the Gr. 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy during the Cheltenham Festival in March 2024, and his sister Statuaire is herself a winner at the highest level.
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HAMMER & TROWEL YNDICATE
BY LOÏC STECHER CHOCRON
Their latest Group 1 winners go by the names Aurora Vega and Facile Vega, two full brother and sister, born into royalty as they are by Walk In The Park out of Quevega. Although the ownership duo is not the biggest provider of runners across the Emerald Isle( 14 at their peak in 2009 – 2010), their strike-rate is impressive, reaching 75 % during the 2022 – 2023 season in the land of Guinness. Their success is perfectly illustrated by Quevega, winner of 13 of her 18 starts for Willie Mullins. In France, the red and blue silks have contested 19 races, claiming 9 podium finishes and earning prize money on 13 occasions. All achieved by Willie Mullins, just like their 12 Group 1 wins in Ireland and 6 Group victories in France. Ger O’ Brien, one of the two members of the syndicate, nicknamed“ Hammer” alongside his associate Sean Deane, who is known as“ Trowel,” hopes that in 20 or 30 years’ time, commentators will still be talking about Quevega. And things are certainly heading that way! The French champion has begun her second life as a broodmare at the Irish National Stud in flying fashion.
Quevega
24 races 16 wins including 4 Gr. 1
If you ask Willie Mullins about his favourite horse, he will answer: Quevega. Bred in France by Pierre Rives, Quevega began her career on the flat at Niort for trainer Bertrand de Watrigant, and it took until her fourth attempt to see her score at Vichy, in September of her three-year-old season. She would go on to win twice more on the flat before joining Willie Mullins’ yard at the end of 2007, continuing her winning streak on her first two outings for her new connections, making victorious debut over hurdles. Her first attempt at the highest level ended in defeat. On her return to France, she finished 3 rd in the Prix Alain du Breil( Gr. 1). She would then enjoy success at Group 2 level in the 2009 David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, a race she would win six consecutive times up to 2014! From March 2010 to May 2014, she ran only twice a year, that famous Mares’
Hurdle during the Cheltenham Festival and the Ladbrokes Series Hurdle at Punchestown, a Group 1 which she captured in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 before being beaten in 2014. She remained undefeated from March 2010 to March 2014.
JP MCMANUS
BY LOÏC STECHER CHOCRON
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He is the other major name in racing, mainly in National-Hunt, but the man, closely associated with the Magniers of Coolmore, also owns a stud farm and his successful on the flat. Born in Limerick in 1951, he began his professional career in the family construction machinery business before becoming a bookmaker. In 1982, he purchased, with his wife Noreen, Martinstown Stud on his native land, today a very luxurious stud where all his retired champions reside. In 2023, 26 lucky retirees were standing at the farm, including Istabraq, triple winner of the Champion Hurdle( Gr. 1) as well as Défi du Seuil, etc. JP McManus has won the greatest races in the United Kingdom and Ireland, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice. He is also joint record-holder among owners in the Grand National at Liverpool( alongside, among others, Gigginstown House Stud) with 3 wins. While Nicky Henderson, Gordon Elliott or Gavin Cromwell also have representatives wearing the green and gold silks, in recent years the success between JP McManus and Willie Mullins has only continued to intensify. Of the last 30 Group 1 victories recorded by JP McManus, from
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