ENGLISH TEXTS

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CÉCILE ADONIAS

CAVA ASSOCIATES

By Mélodie Janvier

Bloodstock agent Cécile Adonias , who founded Cava Associates , highlights the differences between racing in France and Qatar and the key criteria for acquiring horses for Qatari interests :

Galorama . Can you explain how you came to collaborate with the Qataris ?

Cécile Adonias . I founded my bloodstock agency , Cava Associate , in October 2019 . At the beginning , my client base was primarily focused on NH racing , but over time , my network expanded and diversified . My first Qatari client involved the purchase of Selous , bred by Al Shahania , who quickly won races in Doha after his arrival and continued to perform well each season , except for one year due to a health issue . Thanks to Selous ’ success , which met the expectations of his connections , I was able to develop my client base in Qatar .

G . Are there significant differences between racing in France and in Qatar ?

C . A . Racing in Qatar is different from racing in France . Over there , races are much faster-paced and you need horses that can adapt to quick tracks or perform well on dirt . They also have to be capable of producing multiple bursts of acceleration during a race . The quality of racing is continuously improving , so you need competitive horses to perform well in Doha .

G . The Gulf countries are known for their special attachment to Purebred Arabians ( PA ). Can you tell us more about this ?

C . A . The Purebred Arabian market is very well-developed in Qatar , largely due to their love for the breed . An owner of thoroughbreds often owns Purebred Arabians as well . The purchasing criteria for Purebred Arabians are similar to those for thoroughbreds , with the main difference being in the racing program . There are two distinct programs for Purebred Arabians : one reserved for locally-bred PAs and another open to all , including imports . The Qatari program offers more variety in race distances for Purebred Arabians , providing more opportunities than the French program can offer .

G . Is the racing atmosphere in Qatar different from that in France ?

C . A . The atmosphere at the races in Qatar is different from that in France . Horses are deeply rooted in their culture . It ’ s a very family-friendly and warm environment .

G . What are your most recent purchases exported to Qatar that you have high hopes for ?

C . A . This year , two horses I purchased participated in the Qatar Derby on December 27 , which is very encouraging . They competed against horses of a higher caliber , likely bought with larger budgets . There is a significant disparity in purchase budgets , which is an advantage because it allows for investment in different markets and horse profiles . For example , Swann , who just ran in the Qatar Derby , was a horse I purchased from a claimer in September 2024 .

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THE BIG

JURY

� PAGE 100

In each edition of our magazine , we will pose four questions to four personalities from the racing world whom we believe can provide different insights on current topics .

MARIE VÉLON 2020-2024 TOP FEMALE FLAT JOCKEY IN FRANCE BERTRAND LE MÉTAYER BREEDER , BLOODSTOCK AGENT NICOLAS DE CHAMBURE BREEDER , STUD MANAGER , OWNER , BREEDER JEAN-PAUL GALLORINI FORMER TRAINER , BREEDER have agreed to answer us .

1TROTTING ACROSS EUROPE HAVE JUST ACCEPTED THE PRINCIPLE OF ABANDONING THE WHIP . SHOULD WE FOLLOW SUIT ?

2JOCKEYS WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO RIDE AT TWO PREMIUM MEETINGS IN ONE DAY . WHAT DO YOU THINK ?

3CLAIMING RACES : ARE THERE ENOUGH ? NOT ENOUGH ?

4IS THERE A YOUNG HORSE THAT HAS GOT YOU DREAMING FOR 2025 ?