ENGLISH TEXTS each other since the mid-90s. Our products complete theirs in breeding terms. But the race programmes and systems are very different.
G. One last anecdote with Willie Mullins to conclude?
G. M. One day, we found ourselves posing for a photo together with Nicky Henderson during the Grande Course de Haies at Auteuil. We were the leading trainers in our respective countries. I still have the picture on my phone.
PAR LOIC STERCHER CHOCRON
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The champion horses trained by Willie Mullins, whether they shone in France or on their native soil, are numerous, and some have almost become legendary. Let’ s look back at some of the names that have further shaped the legend of Willie Mullins.
ÉNERGUMÈNE
19 races 13 wins including 6 Gr. 1
Énergumène: a name destined for greatness Bred in France by Christophe Dubourg, Énergumène established himself from his earliest outings as one of the best steeplechasers on his adopted soil. A son of Denham Red, he strung together victories at the highest level, including two consecutive wins in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. He never actually ran in France, his native country, despite being bred there by Christophe Dubourg. By Denham Red and born in 2014, Énergumène is a
competitor of exceptional consistency, having made only one misstep, when he was pulled up at the last Cheltenham Festival. His finest achievements so far remain his victories in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, a race he added to his record two years in a row, in 2022 and 2023. During those same two years, he also completed the double in the William Hill Champion Chase at Punchestown. Thus he crowned 2022 and 2023 with 5 wins – including 4 Gr. 1 – and two placings from as many outings, swelling his bank account by over € 950,000. His breeder recalls:“ We named him Énergumène because from birth he was already physically exceptional. He comes from a line of cross-country horses. But that produces tough horses with plenty of spirit, ideal for England.” The colt was purchased for € 50,000 at the age of 3, purely on his physique. He then began successfully in Point-to-Points before joining the stable of Willie Mullins.
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS
24 races 15 wins including 11 Gr. 1
Galopin des Champs: when trotting leads to glory over jumps Bred by GAEC des Champs, better known in the trotting discipline, Galopin des Champs was purchased as a foal by Damien Bonne, himself a professional in trotting. Under the guidance of Willie Mullins, he has established as one of the best jumpers of his generation, claiming the mythical Cheltenham Gold Cup twice. He will celebrate his 10 th birthday next year, with hopes of adding another Cheltenham Gold Cup to his impressive hall of fame- and why not equal Arkle’ s record of three wins( Golden Miller has five, from 1932 to 1936!)? But Willie Mullins’ champion may miss his reappearance in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown this November, after a slight setback in his preparation. To be continued. The“ FR”, bred by GAEC des Champs, is a son of Timos. He began his racing career with a win at Auteuil under the training of Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé before being bought by Pierre Boulard for Audrey Turley.
HURRICANE FLY
An“ extraordinary” horse with 22 Gr. 1 Wins Quite a story, this little Hurricane Fly. Little only in size, as his talent was immense. Before the Australian champion Winx, Hurricane Fly held the Guinness World Record for Gr. 1 victories. His first trainer, Jean-Luc Pelletan, tells us the behind-the-scenes story of a discovery that would change his life.“ Jean-Claude Rouget asks me, every time I see him, to tell him the story of Hurricane Fly,” explains Jean-Luc Pelletan. Because yes, his story is one made of twists and turns, of luck, of guardian angels, of encounters, of drama, of hard work and, above all, of a horse with raw talent. It all began at the Goffs yearling sales in Ireland in 2005. Jean-Luc Pelletan was there and bought, for € 65,000, a son of Montjeu with big knees. It was the year of Motivator and Walk In The Park, who would finish first and second in the Epsom Derby, not to mention the successes of Hur-
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