ENGLISH TEXTS
Strength : " I ’ m a hard worker . Work doesn ’ t scare me ."
Weakness : " Maybe I worry too much for no reason . A week before a race , I check everything from A to Z . My character isn ’ t easy every day . I want to do too well ."
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DAMIEN ARTU
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In Chantilly ’ s oldest stable works the youngest trainer in France : Damien Artu , 27 years old . Training racehorses has always been his dream , and in 2019 he earned the Gentleman Rider Gold Whip . But fate accelerated his plans . At just 25 years old , this avid traveler took over the family stable after the sudden death of his father , Jean-Yves , a top jockey at Auteuil ( Marly River , Apple ’ s Girl ...), successful trainer and owner of the fiery Prudence Royale , whose progeny includes Amour à Papa and Bébé d ’ Amour .
Love is a principle in this family , which was hit hard by the loss of Nathanaëlle during a race at Lion d ' Angers in the Prix de l ' Isle-Briand , the same race that Damien would win twelve years later , tears in his eyes . “ My father was a tough guy , I ’ m made from the same mold . But life contributed to that too .”
His mantra : “ Not even a scratch . It ’ s the Artu trademark , written on my forehead .” On horseback , no matter the cost . This passionate man learned the rest alongside “ Robert Collet and Philippe Demercastel ,” his two other mentors after his father , as well as under Jérôme Reynier , whom he never had time to assist .
“ My father always told me : it ’ s a job for observers . That ’ s what made me travel everywhere : Ireland , England , the United States , Dubai , Australia ... Horses are everything I love . I live my passion at 300 %, I attend every sale in Europe .”
Already a Listed winner with Rashford , he has achieved 5 wins and 53 placings this year .
Ambitious , he doesn ’ t hesitate to break the codes : “ We have a wonderful job . I want to make people love our sport , find new owners , and share my passion with them . I offer shares of 5 , 10 , 15 % in yearlings bought for modest prices , starting at 390 euros per share with 100 euros for boarding . All of this is done in partnerships , where everyone has their own interests . I hope to reach 80 owners by early 2025 , 400 to 500 in 3-4 years .”
He has big dreams . “ Short-term : win my first Group race before I ’ m 30 . Medium-term : fill my yard with 80 boxes and race internationally . Long-term : have the same wall of newspaper clippings as my greatgrandfather , George Bridgland , who won everything as a trainer ( Arc de Triomphe 1964 , St Léger , and King George VI ) and jockey ( Derby , Oaks , St-Léger Stakes ). The same one with my image . It ’ s in the attic of the stud farm . Every time I look at it , I say , ‘ Wow !’”
Strength : “ Like my father , I have a tough side . If an employee comes to ask for time off , I ’ ll probably give them a look . When I had a broken pelvis and a cracked rib , my father made me ride three horses instead of four .”
Weakness “ My plan was to travel and train from age 25 to 35 before becoming a trainer . I didn ’ t have time to do all that or become an assistant . I compensate by investing 300 % into everything .”
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FLAVIE BRESSON
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Since settling into the family structure at Larmorlaye in 2021 , Flavie Bresson has seen her stable grow to about twenty horses . “ At the beginning , my father helped me get started . I don ’ t have pedigrees that stand out , but I ’ m lucky to be surrounded by a very good , experienced , and well-rounded team . My accountant doesn ’ t really agree , but that ’ s how you get results .”
Five wins this year , “ almost 65 % of horses in the money , Everillo continues to climb the ranks , and Excelsior too .” Like Victoria Head and Elisabeth Allaire , she also got her start with sport horses . “ I used to cross paths with Victoria at the competitions . I ’ ve been friends with Elisabeth since Ireland .”
Having a training license after working as a journalist at Le Figaro , Christian Bresson passed on his passion to his daughter . His teachings : “ Respect for the horses above all . Wait for the right moment to ask for effort . Don ’ t rush things .”
She also learned a lot from large operations like those of O ’ Brien and Mullins . “ The rhythm is different compared to France . The canters are less regular in the morning , but the horses gallop more often . The tracks
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