ENGLISH TEXTS
G. What are the plans for his future?
A. R. He will have 8 weeks off after that and remains in Europe for the summer.
G. What advice would you give to breeders and / or owners that would like to follow your steps?
A. R. The first one would be: listen to your horse and the second one, work with people that have integrity and values! Give them a break, don’ t push them, be patient, value horse feedback and follow their leads. If you push too hard, it doesn’ t work. Not all horses can follow the same path. Look at horses as an individual and listen to them. Breeding has its up and downs. It is not easy, and breeders shall have more credit and reward. They deserve more kindness and empathy.
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NH
� PAGE 103
By Jacob Pritchard-Webb
LOOKING FOR THE NEXT WALK IN THE PARK
Throughout history trends are made and set by influential people in this world whether it be music, clothing or Politics. The current trend in National hunt racing is that French is best. This can be argued and denied but because of three people there is no denying that French horses are being sought after more and more. Those three people are in my opinion Martin Pipe, Paul Nichols and Willie Mullins. From Martin pipe sourcing French horses from claimers all those years ago, to Nicholes training possibly the great steeple chaser ever in Kauto Star. No one will also forget the past ten years of dominance Willie Mullins has had on the game with, that’ s right you guessed it, French horses.
The appetites for a FR suffix at the end of the horse’ s name means more people are out in the fields buying foals, more people on the planes and ferries heading to the sales and shows for yearlings and two-year old. Whether it be Arqana, or Auctav the Irish are on the lookout for something by a new or proven sire to resell as a three-year-old. More bloodstock agents through the turnstiles at Auteuil watching the three- and four-year-old hurdles. More people on the stallion trial deciding which du berlais stallion to send their mare to.
French horses have enticed more and more people to come and get involved in the French market and racing. Proof is in the pudding and none more so than the national hunt game being dominated by two former Uk based jockeys in James Reveley a three times champion jockey and Felix de Giles, champion jockey two years ago and currently leading the title race. these two have been a dominate force for the past two years and were joined 5 years ago by Charlotte Prichard who in that time has been champion female jockey four times and a grade 2 winner to boot. That’ s not the only pudding on the table however, Amy Murphy has recently moved over full time in search of taking some of the brilliant prize money on offer and she joins the other British trainers who moved to France such as Anne-Sophie Crombz, Carla O’ Halloran, Louisa Carberry and Noel George.
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