ENGLISH TEXTS
ivier, we know each other inside out, we don’ t even need to talk. He’ s a key element in how the stable operates. Pierre-Charles Boudot with Luwsail in the Qatar Gold Sword – Purebred Arabian, and finally, Faleh Bughenaim, who just won with Luwsail as well. Faleh is a former endurance world champion. He’ s a true horseman with excellent balance. It all started as a joke from H. H. Sheikh Joaan Al Thani, who told him to become his jockey. Today, he’ s Al Shaqab Racing’ s first jockey. He’ s very committed and is at the stables every morning.
NH
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By Jacob Pritchard-Webb
GRAND STEEPLECHASE REVIEW
‘ Racing never ceases to amaze me.’ These were the words spoken to my Nan as we both watching crazy Kevin Nabet get flown into the air and attempt an acrobatic-like performance to save himself from falling. Fall he did though, as his horse Lord Brett smashed his way through the fear- ful bull finch, catapulting Nabet into the air. Upon his decent to ground he stuck out an arm in pure survival instinct and came across L’ Amazone and Clement Lefebvre. Shock and surprise were the emotions that followed for me and probably all of the people watching on from the Paris Grandstand at the events that followed. Nabet’ s arm stuck out and came across l’ Amazones neck with his left hand, as continued to cling on to Lord Brett with his right. For the next few strides Kevin reminded me of the statue of Christ the Redeemer in the Brazilian hills of Rio de Janeiro. His mighty effort to save himself waned, and his grip weakened on the galloping neck of Clements mount. I can’ t imagine what he was thinking at the time, let alone his horse, she’ d only signed up to carry one rider- not two. In the grand stands the Cypres watched on as their Lord Brett unseated Kevin only to watch him hitch a ride on their other horse.
Gravity took over, and with his final effort Kevin attempted to grab Clements reins and momentarily halted his action as the L’ Amazone was pulled left, Lord Brett in all this galloped on like nothing was happening which for me, added to the amusement. Like I said, racing never ceases to amaze. I’ ve seen plenty of falls and been in plenty myself, but I’ ve never seen a jockey try and straddle two horses during a race. It was an eventful start to what became an eventful weekend, full of drama. surprise and delight. That race not only delivered the unseat that was all over the internet, it provided a must needed winner for current champion female jockey, Charlotte Prichard riding Levoilatiep for David Cottin. A year already stricken with injury setbacks, it was a welcomed sight to see someone of her talent, showcase it on the biggest weekend of national hunt racing in France. It was a front running ride that allowed her to show her ability to manage the pace, get a big young four-yearold to jump economically and not get flustered when someone overtook her and took her on for the lead. A very popular winner for the first race of the big meeting. The most popular winner of the whole weekend however came when Nectaris won the four-year-old quinte handicap hurdle for Noel George, Amanda Zetterholm and jockey Kevin Nabet. There is no doubt that the three of them played their part hugely in getting this horse to win on the big weekend for owner Madam Christian Cealy. The person however that made this the most popular winner of the weekend was however unable to be there to celebrate in person a victory that should have been his from the saddle. That is Nicolas Gauffenic. Nectaris was previous owned by Haras du Saubouas and had
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