ENGLISH TEXTS this is our first win- it’ s just amazing.” Marcy de Soultrait loves fine clothes and beautiful cars but also harbors a genuine passion for horse racing. In Toury-Lurcy, the family stronghold on the Burgundy border between Nièvre and Allier, horses are a shared passion and breeding a family tradition. Whether they are named Eric, Yves, or Bertrand, the members of the De Soultrait family all manage estates in this heartland of AQPS breeding in central-eastern France: Eric, the father, at Grand Quartier; Yves at Saccarts; Bertrand at Haras de Toury. For the younger generation, it’ s worth remembering that Roger de Soultrait, Bertrand’ s grandfather, was crowned France’ s top National-Hunt breeder in 1991 and was one of the co-founders of the AQPS breed. It was in 2018, the same year Marcy de Soultrait launched AIM Experience, a new ready-towear brand offering sleekly designed“ technical outerwear”, that he entered into horse co-ownership with his father Eric and a few close friends. The story goes that their first horse, Esprit de Quartier( by Network), debuted in their colors on April Fool’ s Day with a 4 th place finish at Montluçon, hinting at success that came just one month and eight days later with a win at Cluny. That year alone, this French-bred chaser trained, naturally, by the ever-present Augustin de Boisbrunet, won three races and eventually earned
€ 132,000 across 35 starts over fences, cross-country, and hurdles( 14 wins, 14 placings). Following in the hoofprints of Antidote, Fantaisie Musicale and Grande Vue, Indivis has now taken over and, four years in, has amassed nearly € 235,000 in prize money. This chestnut gelding, co-bred by Eric de Soultrait and Thierry Adenot, has already notched five wins and eleven placings. Last year, he faced off against top-class horses like Diamond Carl and Rosario Baron in the Prix Georges Courtois( Gr. 2), shortly after finishing runner-up in the Prix Montgomery( Gr. 3) with Bertrand Lestrade in the irons. Meanwhile, Marcy Paris continues its mission of“ restoring elegance to the uniform.” After serving as the official outfitter for ID-TGV, the brand went on to dress Renault Formula 1, Peugeot Sport, aligned itself with Jaeger-LeCoultre via the Richemont Group, partnered with LVMH, and launched its own creative studio, M102, three years ago. As for Bertrand de Soultrait, after returning from the United States, he completely transformed a cattle farm into a stunning 320-hectare estate boasting 92 stalls and 48 paddocks. He now places great hopes in his two stallions: Na Has( by Saint des Saints), under his Hamel Stud banner, and Master d’ Oc, the first son of Doctor Dino to stand at stud in France.
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By Mélodie Janvier
DRESS CODE & FASHION ABROAD
Since their origins, horse racing have been as much a sporting event as a showcase of elegance. Some racetracks have maintained this tradition of strict dress codes, such as Royal Ascot across the Channel, where the Royal Enclosure enforces an iconic dress code. Spotlight on a few trends and highlights around the world.
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UNITED KINGDOM
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THE ROYAL ASCOT MEETING, the most iconic and elegant. It is world-renowned for the strictness of its dress code within the“ Royal Enclosure.”
Men: black or grey morning coat with waistcoat, striped trousers, tie, and top hat required.
Women: knee-length or longer
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