ENGLISH TEXTS
and statistics tell us that the horse that wins that grade 1 in November have run in the spring of that year which just solidifies the concept of getting them going sooner and educating earlier. We work back basically from that race and hope we can win it.” A lot of water has to go under the bridge before getting to that race and they are under no illusion not every horse is going to make it. Ahearn doesn’ t hide the fact that whatever horse does end up standing at Coolmore will have to be the real, real Mc- Coy, an exceptional horse. And if they don’ t; they can always geld them, bring them back to Ireland to continue their career there or if they do get some sort of black type, they would be open to offers from other French studs to purchase and stand the horse themselves. They understand the task they are trying to achieve and if they can get one stallion in three years of trying then they will be delighted but make no mistake these horses will be for sale if they don’ t. We are not looking at a new powerhouse of 30 horses in training.“ it’ ll be an annual thing where we start with a certain number, we grade them and know some will and won’ t work with the ambition of trying to get one to go unbeaten in four or five runs, win the grade one and bring him back to stand at the granges, a son of walk in the park standing maybe alongside his father would be fantastic and we know they would have the looks and the pedigree to match because we’ ve picked them with those in mind. So, we know the reason why France but why Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm?“ we’ d never had anything to do with either of them before, but I met Noel and we spoke and discussed a few things, you could say right place right time. They are very ambitious, up and coming, good at what they do but most importantly understood what we are trying to do along with English speaking which certainly helps. I met them the day Il est Francais won the Novice chase at Kempton, they then came over and looked at the horses liked what they saw, and the lads liked the fit. We didn’ t want to spread the horses around and they have fantastic facilities in Chantilly and proved they can train, and I have to say so far so good; we are very happy with them. I have to appluade Noel and Amanda as well because from the start they told us what the plan had been with the horses and where they would go with the Prix rush being a race, he wanted to target due to its reputation and the mighty celt was the one he picked out for that race. No pressure has ever been put on them but if he’ s happy to run them we will go on their judgement, and we haven’ t been steered wrong so far.” One trip to Auteuil so far for Ahearn and another looks likely with a runner in the Prix Go Ahead but how did he find his day out?“ it’ s a fantastic facility and fantastic racecourse, the track was in great nick. I was a little surprised with the amount of people at the track but that’ s just the shape in which racing is in right now. We were really well looked after on the day and I was impressed with it and I can’ t not mention how good the prize money is across the program book, doesn’ t matter what level you’ re in at its brilliant and gives everyone a chance. To have won 65 thousand in prize money for just running in maiden hurdles so fair play to France galop because it all helps.” It certainly does help and it’ s fair to say the inclusion of the Magnier silks has helped promote French racing outside of France so you can only say best of luck and fair play to them for giving it a go. I have a feeling we will be seeing them in the winner’ s enclosure of Auteuil for many more years to come.
BACK TO THE ARTICLE �
# 8 168