ENGLISH TEXTS landing the Prix Congress 3yo Chase ( Gr . 2 ) for Ecurie Hub de Montmirail and trainer Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé . Kivala du Berlais , trained by David Cottin , entered the Prix Cambacérès 3yo Hurdle ( Gr . 1 ) as co-favourite , having previously won the Prix Georges de Talhouët-Roy 4yo Hurdle ( Gr . 2 ). And to cap it all off , Glasgow du Berlais , carrying the stud ' s own colours , triumphed in the € 110,000 Prix Cacao Handicap Chase . Even Diamond du Berlais got in on the action with a third-place finish in the Haras d ' Étreham Prix Magalen Bryant 3yo Fillies Hurdle ( Gr . 3 ) for Robert Collet ' s family ' s Ecurie des Terrains d ' Avilly Saint-Léonard , in partnership with — you guessed it — Haras du Berlais .
From mules to Butte Mortemart , there ' s just one ... jump .
But who is the mastermind behind this jumps powerhouse ? Jean-Marc Lucas has spent the last three decades building Haras du Berlais into the formidable force it is today . A video produced by France Sire in 2023 tells the story of this unique operation that ’ s detailed on the website : from a breeding ground for Poitou mules ( whose land was even awarded at the 1900 Universal Exhibition in Paris !), to a crop farm , and finally , to a Thoroughbred haven under Lucas ' s stewardship . While their jumpers have taken centre stage recently , Haras du Berlais boasts an impressive record on the Flat and with Purebred Arabians as well .
Spread across 160 hectares with a state-of-the-art irrigation system fed by an artificial lake , Haras du Berlais is a model of modern breeding . But it ' s not just about the facilities ; Lucas has a knack for surrounding himself with the right people , listening , learning , and constantly innovating . It ' s no wonder Haras du Berlais is the envy of the jumps world !
One of the key figures in this success story is trainer Robert Collet , whose infectious enthusiasm seems capable of moving mountains ( though thankfully , there aren ' t many to move in Poitou-Charentes !). " We met through Micheline Vidal ," explains Lucas , referring to Collet ' s partner . " Simon du Désert was retiring , and they were looking for a place to stand him . I was standing stallions at the time , so I took him in ."
Les Berlais : A Winning Duo
" It blossomed into a true friendship ," adds Collet , " fueled by holidays on the Ile de Ré and a deep mutual respect ."
Lucas first cracked the top 50 French jumps breeders in 1997 , and since 2002 , he ' s rarely been outside the top 10 , even topping the rankings in 2008 . " Robert persuaded me to go all-in on those final meetings at Cagnes-sur-Mer in December that year , and we snatched the lead at the very end ," Lucas laughs . " It was crucial for me to have someone guide me through the racing world , especially the competition side , as I was quite new to it ."
Both men agree that their partnership has been mutually beneficial . For Lucas , the trust and open communication with Collet provide invaluable feedback on his horses . For Collet , this deep understanding of the Berlais stock allows him to better manage their training and advise his clients .
" However , I started working with trainers in Royan because it was more convenient geographically ," Lucas notes . " There was Guillaume Macaire , of course , but also Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé , whom I knew well from the Arabian racing scene . But Robert has always been a close advisor , offering guidance in all sorts of areas ! For instance , when
I used to go to Deauville , I ' d stay at the Ibis . One evening , Robert came to get me and said , ' Your clients aren ' t at the Ibis ! Come with me to the Royal ...' And he was right . It was a memorable evening !"
Haras du Berlais produces more than just top-class jumpers ; it cultivates friendships and creates lasting memories for all those who share a passion for the sport .
" IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO MEET SOMEONE WHO WOULD INTRODUCE ME TO HORSE RACING ." Jean-Marc Lucas
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THE BERLAIS RECIPE
Jean-Marc Lucas has rekindled the equine flame at Haras du Berlais , and he was kind enough to share with us some of what his ( successful ) experience has taught him over the years .
The omnipresence and variety of the " Berlais " names at Auteuil gives the impression that the breeding operation of Cécile and Jean-Marc Lucas , along with their son Marc- Antoine , is a large one . However , " we have 18 mares in our name , which equates to about fifteen foals per year ," reveals Jean-Marc Lucas . Haras du Berlais actually hosts many other breeders , both for Thoroughbreds and Purebred Arabians .
To reach the top with such a controlled number of mares , Haras du Berlais must focus on quality . Thus , most of the stallions covering the stud ’ s mares are already well-known and popular , and the bloodlines are well
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