ENGLISH TEXTS
1 YEAR
ALREADY
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By Céline Gualde
POLY GRANDCHAMP : A CHAMPION ' S SECOND ACT
Poly Grandchamp bowed out from the racing scene in the autumn of 2023 , after a fruitful nine-year career . But the legend of this horse , " who wasn ' t born a champion but became one ," according to his former owner Xavier Papot , lives on . Now , Poly is set to embark on a new chapter , far removed from the roar of the crowd : equine therapy .
November 7 th , 2021
Poly Grandchamp , with thirty-eight races under his belt since his debut ( and first victory ) in the spring of 2015 at Nantes , lined up for the Prix La Haye Jousselin ( Gr . 1 ), the " French King George ," for the third time . Trained by François Nicolle and carrying the Papot family silks , Poly had been a force at the highest level of jump racing for years , but this race had eluded him . He wasn ' t the favourite that day ; pundits tipped Le Berry , fresh off a Gr . 3 win , or the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris hero Carriacou .
Partnered with Bertrand Lestrade for the first time , Poly Grandchamp , sporting blinkers , unleashed his metronomic stride on the Auteuil turf , his heart , as always , in the battle . Approaching the fearsome Rail Ditch and Fence , the son of Poliglote surged to the front , jumping flawlessly and matching strides with Le Berry . Then , with a surge of power , he took command on the final turn , securing the most glorious victory of his career .
" Poly was an exceptional jumper ," recalls Xavier Papot . " He simply didn ' t make mistakes ! At the start of his career , we never imagined he ' d reach such heights . It ' s a testament to his trainer ' s skill , but above all , to the incredible bond he formed with his jockey . Bertrand Lestrade dared to make his move early , making the best of Poly ' s jumping prowess to their advantage . The horse could have faltered , but he was incredibly tough and fought all the way to the line ! He started in the provinces , in small races , and climbed the ladder rung by rung to reach the summit ."
Poly Grandchamp raced ten more times after this triumph , winning the Prix Ingré ( Gr . 3 ) before his final bow in the autumn of 2023 . From 2015 to his retirement , this remarkable horse , bred by Jean-Louis Guérin , contested forty-nine races , achieving seven victories and an astonishing thirty-seven placings , accumulating over a million euros in prize money .
Poly resumes service in a completely different field .
Today , Poly Grandchamp enjoys a well-deserved retirement with Soëli Villette in Anjou . A former work rider for Henri-Alex Pantall , Soëli retrains ex-racehorses for show jumping , eventing , and leisure riding . But Poly Grandchamp ' s story is a little different . " A friend who works for Mr . Nicolle told me Poly was nearing the end of his career ," Soëli explains . " He was a special horse for their yard , and they wanted to find him the perfect home ." With the blessing of the Papot family , Soëli was able to purchase him for a modest sum .
" Poly arrived a little over a year ago , and I have no desire to sell him . He ' s such a champion , an iconic horse ! I ' d have to find the absolute perfect match if I were to let him go . Retraining him has been a breeze ; he ' s as kind as he is handsome , and he can do it all . Right now , he ' s enjoying life in the field with our foals , roaming across ten hectares . I ' d love to compete with him in show jumping , but my main goal is to involve him in equine therapy sessions for autistic children and adults , organised by my mother , who is an educator ."
Soëli and her horses will soon be moving to a larger property in Jallais , near Cholet in the Pays de la Loire Region , where they ' ll have the space and facilities to expand their activities . At 16.1 hands high , Poly Grandchamp might seem a bit tall for the job , but his gentle nature and intelligence make him ideally suited . Nearing thirteen years old , he ' s in excellent health , and Soëli is confident he ' ll excel in his new career .
“ THE IDEA IS TO HAVE HIM PARTICIPATE IN EQUITHERAPY WORKSHOPS .” Soëli Villette
ON THE LEFT " He ’ s such a champion , an iconic horse ." Poly Grandchamp , retired under the care of Soëli Villette . © Soëli Villette
TOP LEFT Gr . 1 winner in hurdles , from the tracks to his career . © Soëli Villette
TOP RIGHT Poly Grandchamp and his team after his victory in the Prix La Haye Jousselin ( Gr . 1 ). © APRH
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