ENGLISH TEXTS
established . " This is advice I got from Alec Head ," confides Jean-Marc Lucas . " You should never under breed a mare , but on the contrary , overbreed as much as you can ."
Chica : The Matriarch
The best recruit for Berlais since it opened its doors to racing is undoubtedly Chica Bonita , a mare by Bayadoun and Chinca bred by the Menuisier family . She also was a winner over hurdles at Auteuil and over fences at Granville under the care of Jean-Paul Gallorini . " It was the bloodstock agent Hervé Bunel who told me about her ," recalls Mr . Lucas . " I also had her sister Shinca later on , who gave me Chimère du Berlais , among others . But Chica Bonita , that ' s Bonito and especially Nikita ! That one , she always had something extra , an extraordinary distinction . And she was a champion !"
Patience and Observation
Another champion , Royale Athénia , had an extraordinary career for her breeder , Gilbert Gallot , with trainer Bernard Barbier . She ran 25 times , winning 10 races including the Prix Renaud du Vivier ( Gr . 1 ), the Grand 4-Year-Old Hurdle , ahead of Zaiyad , who beat her the following season in the Grand Prix d ' Automne ( Gr . 1 ). In partnership with Robert Collet , he acquired her at Deauville for € 300,000 . " We only placed one bid , the last one !" jokes Jean-Marc Lucas in the interview he gave us with Robert Collet . " I suspected that we would have to be patient with her ," explains the breeder , " because she had given a lot on the track . Her line is now perpetuated in particular by Altesse du Berlais , winner of the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure 4yo Chase ( Gr . 1 )."
Jean-Marc is also giving more leeway to his son to manage the stud , " and the other day , on Equidia , he appointed me as Racing Manager !" he laughs . " Seriously , I ' m actually going to focus a bit more on the after-sales service of the stud now . Following the breaking , pre-training and training more closely . You have to keep an eye on everything to run a stud farm !"
THE BIG
JURY
� PAGE 84
BACK TO THE ARTICLE �
In each edition of our magazine , we will pose four questions to four personalities from the racing world whom we believe can provide different insights on current topics .
PATRICE DÉTRÉ BREEDER AND OWNER
ÉRIC HOYEAU SENIOR ADVISOR , FORMER CEO OF ARQANA
JACQUES CYPRÈS BREEDER , OWNER , FORMER BOARD MEMBER OF FRANCE GALOP
ROBERT COLLET TRAINER , BREEDER , OWNER
have agreed to answer us .
1
WHAT WOULD BE THE IDEAL DATES FOR THE AUTEUIL JUMPS SEASON ?
2IN SOME JURISDICTIONS , OFFICIAL VETERINARIANS CAN UNILATERALLY DECLARE HORSES NON- RUNNERS . ANY IDEAS ?
3IN FRANCE , FEW TOP-CLASS JUMPERS TRY THEIR LUCK AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL ON THE FLAT , WHEREAS THIS PRACTICE SEEMS TO BE DEVELOPING ELSEWHERE . HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THIS ?
4THE MARKET FOR OLDER HORSES DESTINED FOR AUSTRALIA IS EXPLODING . WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS ?
� PAGE 86
PATRICE DÉTRÉ
BACK TO THE ARTICLE �
1
I ' m happy that we no longer race in June at Auteuil , but the most destructive month is September . Statistically , that ' s when injuries tend to happen . I would be in favour of starting the season the day after the Arc and keep going until the end of December . We would then resume on February 15 th and go until May . I would like the horses to go out in the fields from May 20 th to August 31 st . The summer would be for lower-level horses , a bit like the British and Irish practice .
2I ' m not opposed to the principle , but the vets appointed to make these decisions must be up to the task . This jury must be validated !
3The prize money for good jumps horses in France is such that it doesn ' t necessarily encourage sporting challenges . From a purely financial point of view , it doesn ' t make sense , but what a great challenge , what panache !
4This sustained demand from Australians for good Flat horses confirms the success of the racing organisation there .
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