ENGLISH TEXTS
ricane Run( Qatar Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe) and Scorpion( Grand Prix de Paris and St. Leger), all by the 1999 Arc winner.“ I had no clients. So I asked John Magnier if he wanted him. He politely made me understand that he already had plenty of sons of Montjeu. I then brought him back to France. He measured just 1.52m! By Montjeu out of a Kenmare mare, that had to produce an electric horse. He was complicated, but he was an extraterrestrial. His owner at the time wanted him to start at two years old at La Teste-de-Buch, France in July.” Second that day over 1,200 metres, Hurricane Fly ran three more times at two. He returned and won at three in Mont-de-Marsan, where he was trained, before easily landing the Prix Omnium II( Listed), beating future Gr. 1 winners Literato and Spirit One.“ Hurricane Fly was then supposed to make his debut over hurdles at Auteuil in the Prix Achille-Fould( Listed). Harold Kirk, Willie Mullins’ bloodstock agent, had come to the yard to see three other horses with Richard Hobson and their vet. The deal didn’ t happen. They then asked me if I had another horse to show them. It was Hurricane Fly. Luckily, I didn’ t show him in his box because of his size, but out on the track. The horse was flying. The sale was agreed, but the day Willie Mullins’ brother, who is a transporter, came to pick him up, things went very badly. A few minutes earlier, Hurricane Fly had been on the horse-walker and had pulled off two shoes. The transporter refused to load the horse and left. When I heard that, I immediately called Willie Mullins’ office. Fortunately, a lovely lady spoke French and translated. I explained the situation. The transporter turned around to come back, pick the horse up, re-shod, and head for Ireland.” A true champion, Hurricane Fly secured two editions of the Champion Hurdle( Gr. 1) at Cheltenham and its Irish equivalent five times. In total, 22 Gr. 1 wins! Since then, he has been enjoying a happy retirement at the Irish National Stud alongside other champions( Sizing John, Beef Or Salmon and Faugheen), where the public can come and see them.
UN DE SCEAUX
BY CÉLINE GUALDE
34 races 23 wins including 10 Gr. 1
The fabulous destiny of Un de Sceaux He has the pedigree of a commoner but the record of a king! A horse of iron, the AQPS Un de Sceaux raced continuously from 2012 to 2020, retiring at the age of eleven. He amassed ten Group 1 victories in Ireland and Great Britain, including two at Cheltenham- to which must be added the Prix Hypothèse( Gr. 3) and Léon Rambaud 2014, as well as the Prix La Barka( Gr. 2) in 2016! True champions are born under a lucky star, and he is no exception. His breeder, René Choveau, had long been a client of Haras de la Rousselière in Anjou, where he had sent his mares for covering for decades, when he decided to end his small breeding operation. He felt he was too old to continue. To thank him for his loyalty, Pierre de la Guillonnière, the owner of the stud, decided to offer his friend a free covering to the stallion of his choice. René Choveau chose Denham Red and embarked on one more breeding year.“ But he really felt too old and asked us to foal his mare, Hôtesse de Sceaux, and raise the colt,” recounts Nelly de la Guillonnière. Mr. Choveau kindly registered Haras de la Rousselière and his wife Monique as co-breeders of the foal, who he never saw race: he passed away in his armchair, watching the races, when the future champion was still just a youngster. Un de Sceaux, the suffix chosen because the breeding was based in Sceaux-d’ Anjou, began his career with Fabrice Foucher, for whom he won twice on the flat before being sold to Edward O’ Connell and joining Willie Mullins’ yard. Yet the gelding was only fourth on the owner’ s purchase list, but the three horses ahead of him all failed the vet check! Un de Sceaux went on to win twelve consecutive races across the Channel between 12 December 2012 and 10 March 2015. The streak, marred only by a fall at Thurles in November 2014, culminated in a Group 1 victory in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase at Cheltenham.“ Un de Sceaux was sent back to us for his retirement because he had a problem with his fetlock,” says Nelly de la Guillonnière.“ He arrived home in magnificent condition and never took a lame step! He is now seventeen years old and is the perfect companion for racehorses resting, empty mares or weaned foals.” The long sporting adventure of the champion gave the de la Guillonnière family the opportunity to meet Willie Mullins and to experience
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