ENGLISH TEXTS
see the Cyprès family every year to choose yearlings . For instance , that ’ s how I got The Fellow , who is a year older than Al Capone II . Al Capone II wasn ’ t very big , but there was no reason to overlook him , so Robert Fougedoire included him in the selection . However , in the meantime , we had a falling out , and Al Capone II went to my great rival , Bernard Sécly . I couldn ’ t have done better than him , obviously . But I would watch him regularly , as a neighbor , with some annoyance . Bernard deserved credit for knowing how to handle him so well because he wasn ’ t easy . He would jump to the right while leaping , and he wasn ’ t the most reliable jumper out there . He wouldn ’ t have been able to keep up with his brother in England . They were very different from each other . His jumping style wouldn ’ t have suited the English fences . He practically only raced at Auteuil because of that . It ’ s a shame , but it was the right choice . Bernard had the wisdom to give him the program that suited him best .“
� PAGE 47
BACK TO THE ARTICLE �
THE WACKY RACERS AT AUTEUIL
It was destined , and fans of the animated series Wacky Races had known it for a long time . Several clues linked Al Capone II to the number 7 . In the French version of this zany series , Satanas and his terrible dog Diabolo ( who even got their own spin-off ) try by all means to win the race but never succeed . Among their rivals is Al Carbone and his crew . Their car bears the number 7 , and there are seven of them racing to make it go .
Now , if Satanas had bet on Al Capone II every time he raced in the Prix La Haye Jousselin , wagering 100 francs ( yes , we weren ’ t yet using euros !) when he won on November 14 , 1993 , he would have received 240 francs . This amount would then have been multiplied by 1.70F , 3.20F , 1.40F , 1.10F , 1.50F , and 1.70F for his 7 th victory . In total , that would be 5,127 francs , a return of 50 / 1 . But knowing Satanas , he would have lost it all in November 2000 betting everything on an Al Capone II at 5.80 !
� PAGE 50
BACK TO THE ARTICLE �
AL CAPONE II VS . AL CAPONE II
From the fearsome rail-ditch and fence to the Auteuil winning post lies a challenging 1,216 metres . We ’ ve delved into Al Capone II ’ s eight runs in the Prix La Haye Jousselin Chase , meticulously timing his final surge in each . To visualize the impact of the going , we ’ ve colored the Auteuil turf dark green for heavy and light green for better ground . Can you guess which year he finished faster ?
BACK TO THE ARTICLE �
REPOR- TAGE
� PAGE 52 by Clélia Moncorgé for Karisma Consulting and Fanny Hubart-Salmon
With a purse of over 5 million euros , the Melbourne Cup will be run for the 164th time on Tuesday , November 5th . It is a Group 1 handicap over 2 miles , held at Flemington Racecourse . Since the first foreign victory in « the race that stops a nation » in 1993 , many trainers from Europe , and notably France , have tried their luck , with success , against the best stayers in Oceania . This year once again , the duel between Australia and the rest of the world will captivate the entire planet , and France will be at the starting line ...
� PAGE 54
BACK TO THE ARTICLE �
WILLIE MULLINS ’ NEW GAMBLE
Irish trainer Willie Mullins has completely re-organised the preparation of his French import Vauban ahead of a second attempt at the Melbourne Cup . He will also saddle Absurde , who raced in France for the Wertheimer family , in Australia ’ s greatest race on November 5th .
BACK TO THE ARTICLE �
112