ENGLISH TEXTS
have become the trainer I am— I am certain of that.
LA UNE
01 FREDDY HEAD
“ A MORE NORMAL LIFE”
BY EMMANUEL RIVRON
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The only jockey to achieve the double in both the Poule d’ Essai des Poulains and the Poule d’ Essai des Pouliches in two consecutive years, Freddy Head has had his name entered fourteen times in the roll of honor of these prestigious Group 1 races, colts and fillies combined. The former champion jockey and top trainer shares a few memories of these spring classics, with his usual humility and class. GALORAMA. How do you explain your remarkable success as a jockey in the Poules d’ Essai for colts and fillies? Freddy Head.
G. Tell us about Ivanjica, who gave you your first Poule d’ Essai des Pouliches in 1975.
F. H. Ivanjica belonged to Jacques Wertheimer and was trained by my father Alec Head. Unfortunately, she couldn’ t run in the Prix de
Diane a few weeks later. The Chantilly Group 1 couldn’ t take place because of a strike by stable lads. Ivanjica then won the Prix Vermeille in the autumn. And at four, she won the Arc de Triomphe. That day, she got frightened by photographers after the race and I fell in front of the stands. She ran loose all the way to the Moulin de Longchamp before being caught.
G. Three Troikas also allowed you to achieve the“ Poule d’ Essai – Arc” double in 1979.
F. H. Three Troikas was a topclass mare. At three, she won everything except the Prix de Diane, where we came up against Georges Doleuze on Dunette. Three Troikas enabled my sister Criquette Head-Maarek to become the first female trainer to win an Arc de Triomphe. It was also for Criquette that I won my last Poule d’ Essai in 1997, riding Always Loyal. I was 50, and it was my final year as a jockey.
G. How do you explain such longevity as a jockey?
F. H. I’ m not entirely sure. But I was lucky to have the right physique for the job. I lived a disciplined life with good habits, which allowed me to last over time.
G. Returning to the Poule d’ Essai, have draw numbers in the stalls always been so decisive?
F. H. I remember winning the Poule on the middle track. But since that disadvan- taged horses drawn wide, the races were moved to the Grande Piste. The problem remains the same. There are many runners in these races, and drawing a number at Longchamp is definitely a small disadvantage. At one time, there were many front-runners in these big races, which made them very evenly run. Today, that’ s less the case. The pace is therefore slower, which doesn’ t suit hold-up horses.
G. Is it still as natural to go on to the Jockey Club or the Prix de Diane after the Poules d’ Essai?
F. H. Historically, great champions often went from the Poules d’ Essai to the Jockey Club or the Diane. Today, there is more specialization in distances. National and international programs mean that a colt or filly can stay over 1,600 meters and still have a great career. A good miler today is just as valuable as a 2,400-meter horse, if not more.
G. That’ s a perfect transition to talk about a renowned miler, Goldikova, who nevertheless didn’ t win the Poule d’ Essai des Pouliches …
F. H. Goldikova was extraordinary but came up against Zarkava in the Poule. Goldikova was already very good at two, having won on debut at Chantilly, though she was still quite late-maturing. I had considered running her in the Prix Marcel Boussac at two, but ultimately didn’ t because
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