ENGLISH TEXTS
lasted until the end of 1992. There was immediately a good understanding with François Boutin, our trainer. What I remember most are the breakfasts we shared after morning workouts. These early meetings were meant to discuss the gallops themselves as well as the horses’ racing programs. Looking back, it was a wonderful experience.
G. What are your best memories?
A. C. With Miesque, without hesitation. But it is very difficult for me to single out just one race of her. She was exceptional from age two to four. Winning 10 Group 1 races in that manner, at that time, was extraordinary. Freddy and Miesque got along extremely well, almost like a couple who know each other inside out. I would even say more like a family: Miesque, Freddy, François, and her groom Bernard. Racing history will remember this mare’ s career, and Freddy played no small part in it. All the more so as she became a remarkable broodmare. Even today, her descendants are still winning Group 1 races.
G. Other champions, partnered with Freddy, also marked the Niàrchos silks …
A. C. Starting with Hector Protector, with whom I keep a very precise memory: his victory in the Prix Jacques Le Marois in 1991, already sponsored by Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard, the former breeding arm of the
Niàrchos family in France. His success that day was decided by a matter of centimetres. Hector Protector won the race on the line. One stride before and one stride after the finish, the victory belonged to his runner-up Lycius. Freddy also won other Group 1 races with this colt: the Poule d’ Essai, the Morny, the Salamandre, and the Grand Critérium. In 1986, Freddy also rode Baillamont to victory in the Prix Ganay and the Prix d’ Ispahan( Gr. 1), as well as Machiavellian in the Prix Morny and the Salamandre( Gr. 1) in 1989, Shanghai in the Poule d’ Essai des Poulains( Gr. 1) in 1992, and Yohann Quartz in the Prix Lupin( Gr. 1) one week later.
G. What were Freddy Head’ s qualities and his flaws?
A. C. Quite simply, he had no flaws, only qualities. First of all, he was a rider, an exceptional one in the saddle. A true horseman with a deep understanding of the animal, both in racing and in terms of breeding.
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YVES SAINT-MARTIN:
“ WE WERE NOT ENEMIES BUT RIVALS”
BY LOÏC STECHER CHOCRON
Between them, they have won 8 editions of the Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe( four each), 13 Prix du Jockey Club, 9 Prix de Diane, 15 Poule d’ Essais des Pouliches and 13 of the colts’ equivalent! And the list is not exhaustive. Yves Saint-Martin and Freddy Head dominated French flat racing, and the former looks back on that golden era.
G. What is the first thing that comes to mind if I say Freddy Head?
Yves Saint-Martin. We are from the same generation. We both rode for major stables and in the biggest races. So we competed fiercely, if you’ ll excuse the expression. We were not enemies, but rivals.
G. What was the nature of your relationship?
Y. S-M. Even back then, Freddy was more interested in breeding. He came from a racing family, whereas I did not. His grandfather, his father, among others, were trainers. We didn’ t have the same affinities or the same groups of friends. I loved hunting, he less so. I flew my own plane. One day, I even took him for a helicopter ride. We got along well, but we didn’ t share the same interests.
G. In 1970, Freddy Head ended your eightyear reign with your 8 consecutive Golden Whips( Cravaches d’ Or). How did you take it?
Y. S-M. There was no rivalry, only respect. Mutual respect. The level of competition was high. I remember, it was great sport!
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