ENGLISH TEXTS stayer Double Major , by Daiwa Major . In short , Wertheimer breeding is not averse to a certain exoticism , which , according to Pierre-Yves Bureau , is a more affordable option for owner-breeders : “ Every year , at the breeding stock sales , we try to acquire one to three mares or fillies in the United States , or even in Europe , to renew our stock a little ,“ he explains . “ We always have in mind to go to proven stallions , but without any preconceived ideas about their environment or distance . When you occasionally want or need to get out of Galileo or Danehill blood , you either have to send more mares to stallions in the United States or go to Japan , for example , always to diversify . I think you can afford to do that more easily when you ’ re an owner-breeder who races all of your own production . So when the stable imports a Brazilian mare , descended from totally unknown stallions , that doesn ’ t stop us at all . What matters to us is that the mare has quality and that we have brought in a bloodline that is different from those we already have .“ Nevertheless , at some point , Wertheimer breeding focuses on France and its Haras de Saint-Léonard , near Deauville , where practically all the stock returns each sprinG . “ All the horses are raised here at Saint-Léonard ,“ confirms Pierre-Yves Bureau . “ They get the Owners ’ premiums because they come back with their dams and stay with us as foals and yearlings before going into training . Then the mares leave a month before foaling for the next covering , unless they are going to the United States , where they typically stay longer . Thirty-five people work on the stud farm , and the mares only leave for covering . We can have up to 90 mares at Saint-Léonard . With the foals , up to nearly 250 horses , spread over
300 hectares , can be on the site at the same time . We try to raise our foals as naturally as possible , for as long as possible . There is no sales preparation , and this allows us to educate them , monitor them and care for them at our own pace , with as much time as possible outside and at grass . This is perhaps why our horses progress for a long time and sometimes more gradually . They go to Philip Prevost-Baratte from September onwards , and join their racing stables until December , January at the latest . So they spend the winter with their trainer , who can then shape them and get to know them . We have a few early foals , but overall , I think our horses are geared towards a career in the second half of their 2-year-old season , then at 3 . This is also due to the fact that we use a lot of classic stallions . Sea the Stars , for example , a magnificent stallion that we love , who gave us Sosie and Aventure last year , is not the kind of stallion you would send a mare to to get a May 2-year-old . Even if we always try to bring in speed .“ After the retirements of Criquette and Freddy Head , then Carlos Laffon-Parias , the stable had to renew its team of trainers , which still numbers five today , namely André Fabre , Christophe Ferland , Edouard Monfort , Christopher Head and Yann Barberot . The horses are divided between the five stables according to an initial method , but without exclusivity : “ The first foals generally go to the trainer who knew their dam ,“ reveals Pierre-Yves Bureau . “ This is a fairly traditional method , but after a few years , we like to diversify so as not to confine a family to one trainer . We are lucky enough to be able to work with several competent professionals spread over several locations , which saves us from a health problem or a period of poor form for all our horses . It also creates a certain emulation , which has its advantages , of course . But we are primarily looking to build long-term relationships , and the history of the stable bears witness to this , whether it be with our trainers or our jockeys . We play the long game .“
PAGE 130 Alain and Gérard Wertheimer . © APRH
PAGE 132 Épinard , an international star of the interwar period . © APRH
PAGE 133 Trainer Christophe Ferland , manager Pierre-Yves Bureau , Alain and Gérard Wertheimer , and Flavien Prat after Indonésienne ’ s victory in the 2013 Marcel Boussac . © APRH
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HORS-
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FRANÇOISE CHAUNION
Françoise Chaunion , breeder of the champion Idao de Tillard , who soared to victory in the Prix d ’ Amérique ( Gr . 1 ) for the second consecutive time on the Vincennes cinder track .
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