By Loïc Stecher Chocron
COKTAIL JET (1990)
Quouky Williams - Armbro Glamour
66 starts
24 wins including 6 Gr.1
Earnings: €1,896,774
1992 marks the year when Daniel Wildenstein partnered with Jean-Pierre Dubois and his son Jean-Étienne to invest in trotting. At the time, Coktail Jet was a two-year-old and would go on to carry his silks. A champion both on the track and at stud, he left a lasting legacy on the racing world - exceptional class, elegance,and raw speed, with a rare record to match. In 1996, he nearly swept everything in his path: Prix d’Amérique, Prix de France, Prix de l’Atlantique, and the Elitloppet in Sweden, all under the training of his breeder Jean-Étienne Dubois.
After dazzling on the track, Coktail Jet became a top sire, fathering six millionaire racehorses in France, including Love You and The Best Madrik. His influence remains strong to this day, a true breed-shaping stallion.
BAHAMA (1989)
Quito de Talonay - Libyssa
69 starts
25 wins including 5 Gr.1
Earnings: €1,669,626
Bred by Dominique de Bellaigue, the daughter of Quito de Talonay was bought young by Jean-Pierre Dubois, who would also train her. She kicked off her racing career at three with a bang, claiming 9 wins from 11 starts under the silks of Axel Wend, who later sold her to Daniel Wildenstein. the “chef” remained at the helm. Five Group 1 wins followed, from Vincennes to Bologna via San Siro. Feeling the weight of age, Daniel Wildenstein wanted to see his mare run, a decision later regretted by Jean-Pierre Dubois, who admitted to having trained her for six months too long. Bahama would go on to become a solid broodmare, dam of several semi-Classic performers.
KOTKIJET (1998)
Cadoudal - Kotkie
31 starts
17 wins including 2 Gr.1
Earnings: €1,326,251
Pulled up in the Prix Finot (Listed) on his debut at age three, Kotkijet broke his maiden at Nancy when returning at four. He was then trained by Jean-Pierre Dubois, who handed him over the following year to the capable hands of Jean-Paul Gallorini. With jockey Thierry Majorcryk, they would shine brightly. 2001 and 2004 were the golden years for the handsome dark bay. He claimed two victories in the flagship race at Auteuil. In 2006, “Tyson”, so nicknamed in reference to boxer Mike Tyson, attempted a historic treble in the Grand Steeplechase de Paris (Gr.1), a quarter-century after his older brother Katko achieved the feat. In a symbolic passing of the torch, he finished third behind Princesse d’Anjou. This spirited gelding with a thousand lives was sired by the legendary National Hunt stallion Cadoudal. Like all elite athletes, he suffered his share of injuries. His longest layoff kept him off the track for 25 months! Nevertheless, he left a permanent mark on the Butte Mortemart.
INDIEN BLEU (1995)
Épervier Bleu - Indiana Rose
34 starts
10 wins including 1 Gr.2
Earnings: €351,045
A son of Épervier Bleu born in 1995, this immensely talented gelding followed an unusual path. He toured provincial racecourses both on the flat and over jumps, ultimately finding his stride in the latter discipline. A dual winner at Auteuil at age three under the training of Jean-Pierre Dubois, Indien Bleu rose to the elite at four, finishing fourth behind his stablemate Homme du Jour, also racing in Daniel Wildenstein’s colors, in the Prix Renaud du Vivier (Gr.1). At five, after another fourth-place effort, this time in the Grand Steeplechase de Paris behind Vieux Beaufai, he scored his finest victory in the Prix des Drags (Gr.2). Like Kotkijet, he hailed from the breeding program at Haras des Coudraies.