ENGLISH TEXTS
It can lie dormant for years , hidden from view , much like a plant biding its time beneath a thick layer of humus , waiting for the right conditions to unleash its unstoppable journey towards the sun . The François Nicolle seed took its time to germinate , perhaps starved of the necessary light . In the shadow of the mighty Macaire and Chaillé trees , his neighbours near Royan in Charentes , it patiently awaited its moment , surviving on the few rays of sunlight that pierced the canopy and the occasional drop of water trickling down from the branches above . There was no bitterness , no resentment ; he simply accepted things as they were .
The milestone of a thousand runners in 2021 Then , one day , the stars aligned differently . With the sun shining and the rains falling , the plant began to grow , reaching ever higher . Between 2011 and 2015 , the stable climbed from 16 th to 3 rd in the French jumps trainers ’ championship . In 2018 , they reached the summit , a position they held until last year . In 2021 , they surpassed 1,000 runners and approached € 10 million in earnings . But then , a virus struck , impacting the stable ’ s performance over the past two years . In 2023 , for the first time since 2011 , François Nicolle ’ s win percentage dipped below 20 %. The stable endured , and 2024 marks a resurgence , emphatically displayed at the recent Auteuil meetings . After Sain d ’ Esprit ’ s triumph in the Prix Cambacérès 3yo Hurdle ( Gr . 1 ), another rising star , Kingland , captured the Prix Renaud du Vivier 4yo Hurdle ( Gr . 1 ). Hermés Baie and Diamond Carl added to the tally with victories in the Prix Léon Olry-Roederer Hurdle ( Gr . 2 ) and the Prix Georges Courtois
Chase ( Gr . 2 ) on the closing day .
The craftsman was ready . What saves a trainer , of course , is the horses . But it ’ s also their resilience , honed during those challenging early years spent in the shadows of giants , where competition is fierce and every victory is a precious breath of fresh air rather than a new cup sitting on a shelf . François Nicolle , based at his Saint- Augustin yard near the Royan training centre , took time to blossom , but his progress has been steady and more gradual than one might imagine . The accompanying graphs bear witness to this . Exceptional horses , arriving at his yard , undoubtedly accelerated his rise . But the foundation was already there : skilled at shaping salvaged materials , those unassuming , fragile stones , the craftsman was ready when the first blocks of marble were placed on his workbench . Symphonique , Queen des Places , Quart Monde , and then increasingly exceptional horses like Farlow des Mottes , Un Temps pour Tout , Alex de Larredya , Bipolaire , De Bon Cœur , L ’ Autonomie , Figuero , Polirico – all contributing to the rising of a stable now boasting over two hundred horses running per year . Those who entrusted him with these gems were breeders like the Cyprès family , who bred Jolie Môme and Oranie Jolie , his best horses in 2001 , and many others who recognized in this unassuming trainer from the Charentes region the eye and the ear for a champion .
Santa Bamba , from Nemesis to Benefactor Of course , François Nicolle doesn ’ t do it alone . His wife Fabienne , his assistant Michel Houdouin , and more recently Artus de Boisbrunet , ensure that the ship stays on course , even in stormy seas . There are also the human connections , as highlighted in our second issue by Jacques Détré , one of the owners who has contributed most to the stable ’ s success . The grey and garnet striped silks were once François Nicolle ’ s nemesis , when his Queen des Places was beaten by Détré ’ s Santa Bamba in the Prix Duc d ’ Anjou , and then when Oculi defeated her in the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure ( Gr . 1 ). Years later , Santa Bamba would produce De Bon Cœur , one of François Nicolle ’ s finest achievements . The mare who had once blocked his path to a Group 1 victory would ultimately gift him three !
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By Emmanuel Roussel
MICKAËL BARZALONA : THE RIGHT CHOICE
He livened up the race for the French title , was the subject of the transfer of the year and set Hong Kong alight : Mickaël Barzalona , it seems , just keeps on riding high .
Mickaël Barzalona didn ’ t win the “ Cravache d ’ Or ”, the French riders ’ title , in 2024 . He tried his best until the very end , but Maxime Guyon didn ’ t falter and kept his advantage to the finish line . Yet , it was Barzalona who made the headlines at the end of the season . Firstly , by adding spice to a trophy that , without this head-to-head battle ,
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