ENGLISH TEXTS at 5 and I spoke with Mr. Mullins. I found it remarkable: a small breeder like me being listened to by such a top-class trainer. I think he really understood the mare after her injury – he told me he didn’ t push her in the mornings and prepared her for two races a year. She was a big-hearted mare who gave 100 % on the track. She had a target at Cheltenham and then Punchestown. She was prepared for that and won both, several years in a row! I am very grateful she joined such a prestigious training. The family is very lively and it is easy to overlook horses like her. Mr. Mullins was able to wait for her and exploit all her potential. It was a real pleasure to experience that as a breeder. If I had to summarise it, I would like to say a big thank you because it was a wonderful 7-year adventure which allowed me to continue the story of Vega IV.”
Olivier de Seyssel“ Vauban is a beautiful story. Philippe Decouz and I are both Savoyards and we have known each other for a long time, outside racing. When he set up at Chazey-sur-Ain, he asked me to send him a horse to train. I was only a trotting breeder at the time. Not knowing much about the flat, Philippe suggested we start the adventure together. I wanted to begin with a broodmare and, one day, Philippe called me to see a mare at the yard, Waldfest, whose owner was selling her. She came from the old German‘ W’ family, which one and a half years later produced Waldgeist, winner of the Arc. We made her a broodmare and sent her to a young stallion still unproven at the time: Galiway.
Vauban arrived. He was a very nice colt to raise. I kept him until weaning and then sent him to Pierre de Maleyssie. He shaped him before he joined Philippe for training. Philippe liked him a lot. We started to receive such offers that it was not reasonable to keep him! Pierre Boulard approached us to ask if we were sellers because Willie Mullins was interested. Vauban ran a Listed race in France before leaving and he won. Then he joined Willie Mullins’ stable and it has been a brilliant story with all his top-level performances, both on the flat and over jumps. We travelled to Cheltenham and Melbourne with Philippe and friends— exceptional memories. Now we just have to rewrite the story with Vauban’ s full sister, or his half-brother by Masar who will start soon.”
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AT A CROSSROADS WITH RUBY WALSH, BETWEEN MEMO- RIES AND NEW ROLE
BY CÉCILE ADONIAS
After a career as first jockey for Willie Mullins, Ruby Walsh continues to work regularly alongside the master trainer. Discretion and humility are values that unite the two men.
GALORAMA. What is your new role within the yard?
Ruby Walsh. I go to Willie’ s twice a week, either to ride horses or to look at them on foot with him. You see more when you’ re on the ground, but as a former jockey, I feel so much under the saddle. It still matters to me. I give my opinion when I’ m asked, but
I tend to stay quiet. I watch the horses and I continue learning. I am only a small cog in a big organisation.
G. What is your view on horses bred in France?
R. W. I’ ve ridden so many great horses that came from France. It’ s a myth that French horses are only precocious; they improve with time, even at four, five and six years old. Willie has proven they have longevity. They are very sound horses. We have always had a mix of thoroughbreds and AQPS. The latter are very tough horses and also very sound. We have had so much success with both types. I love riding the French horses, they jump so well. That certainly comes from the way they are broken in and pre-trained. They are superb jumpers! They jump close to their fences and don’ t raise their backs too much.
G. What are your best memories with Un des Sceaux and Hurricane Fly?
R. W. My best memory with Un des Sceaux will always be his win in the Ryanair Chase( Gr. 1) at Cheltenham in 2017. It was his seventh Group 1, he was older and yet so brave. Over the last six fences, he was jumping like a cat; but we had very little margin. He put his heart on the line to win. It was a moment out of time! I have so many good memories with Hurricane Fly that it’ s hard to choose just one. We had so many great days with him. He’ s probably the best hurdler I ever rode. He was an exceptional jumper. You were on his back but he was still the one making the decisions, as if you weren’ t there. He was very intelligent and
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