ENGLISH TEXTS
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BREEDING
By Emmanuel Roussel
PHILIPPE THIRIET ’ S GREAT WEEKEND
The 2024 Auteuil jumps meeting will be one to remember for Philippe Thiriet . Not only did the manager of Haras de Cercy witness the phenomenal success of their flagship sire Cokoriko , with two of his progeny landing Grade 1 races , but he also celebrated a personal triumph as co-breeder of one of those winners .
It was a true family affair at Auteuil . Jeune Coko , a son of Cokoriko , stormed to victory in the Prix Fondeur 5yo Chase ( Gr . 3 ), while Sain d ' Esprit , another Cokoriko progeny and co-bred by Thiriet , captured the prestigious Prix Cambacérès 3yo Hurdle ( Gr . 1 ). Adding further gloss to the weekend , Kingland , yet another son of Cokoriko , triumphed in the Prix Renaud du Vivier 4yo Hurdle ( Gr . 1 ) a week later .
Thiriet , who oversees the busiest stallion yard in France with around a thousand mares visiting each season , co-bred Sain d ' Esprit ( meaning " sensible " in French ) with Vincent Le Roy , Matthieu Gad , Michel Larobe and Augustin Adeline de Boisbrunet under their Écurie Artsam banner . The talented 3-year-old , now owned by Jacques , his son Patrice Détré and the family-run Team Spirit syndicate , is out of the Saint des Saints mare Saine et Speed .
Thiriet ' s journey with Saine et Speed began in December 2018 at the Arqana Deauville Sale . " We were looking for a quality mare for our breeding program , ideally by Saint des Saints ," Thiriet explains . " Saine et Speed ticked all the boxes with her conformation , pedigree , and race record ." A winner of the Prix Géographie and placed in the Prix d ' Iéna 3yo Fillies Hurdle ( L ), both at Auteuil , she proved to be the perfect match for the rising star Cokoriko .
A bold choice
Although Cokoriko hadn ' t yet reached the heights of his current success , Thiriet ' s faith in the stallion was unwavering . Saine et Speed visited Cokoriko for four consecutive seasons , producing Sain d ' Esprit as her second foal . She has since visited Karaktar , another Haras de Cercy resident , and is booked back to Cokoriko this winter .
Interestingly , all of Saine et Speed ' s foals have been purchased by Jacques Détré , a long-time friend of Thiriet ’ s . " We ' ve known each other for thirty years , since I worked with Nicolas de Lageneste ," says Thiriet . " I ' ve known his son Patrice Détré since he was a boy ... The horses go under their wing at weaning . The Cokoriko - Saint des Saints cross works remarkably well . Our stallion also crosses very well with Montjeu , especially through his son Masked Marvel ."
Cokoriko ' s stud fee has understandably been revised upwards to € 15,000 for the 2025 season , although members of the Haras de Cercy cooperative will enjoy a reduced rate of € 8,000 . " That ' s the Cercy way ," Thiriet explains . " We ' re all in this together ." Sain d ’ Esprit , indeed .
" SAINE ET SPEED WAS EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR ." Philippe Thiriet
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� PAGE 22
JOCKEY
By Véronique Verva pour Karisma Consulting
THE 2024 REVELATION TAKES OFF FOR HONG-KONG
An interview with jockey Alexis Pouchin as he prepares for his departure to Hong Kong — a first for the rider who claimed five Gr . 1 victories and the Cravache de Bronze this season . The young jockey from Ecurie Fabre also shares his goals and ambitions for the coming year .
2024 RECORD
24 years old Cravache de Bronze 148 victories including 15 Group race victories 7 Gr . 1 victories Msqse de Sévigné is his favorite horse
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