ENGLISH TEXTS
a strong argument. The truth is, he gives everyone else a 50-meter head start.
G. Do you think this time he’ s really going to stop?
J. P. Yes, I believe so. At 85, he’ s come to the end of the road. His age is a factor, and not having a top horse in 2024 as well. His licenses have just been revoked for galloping. But in trotting, he might still keep one or two horses with his children and grandchildren. He’ s the number one of all number ones. The most complete figure at every level: breeder, owner, trainer, jockey, driver. There will only ever be one Jean-Pierre Dubois.
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2. THE
VISIONARY
� PAGE 61
By Mélodie Janvier
JEAN-PIERRE DUBOIS: THE VISIONARY WHO RESHAPED THE FRENCH TROTTER
A pioneer of“ modern” breeding, Jean-Pierre Dubois is largely credited with the revolution in French trotting breeding. In the 1980s, the opening of the French Trotter stud book to foreign bloodlines marked a turning point. Among those who fully capitalized on this revolution was Jean-Pierre Dubois. Nicknamed the“ chef,” he didn’ t simply use a few American stallions, he selected key mares, carefully planned their matings and left a deep and lasting legacy on the French and European trotting landscape. His influence remains paramount even thirty years later.
The turning point: an opening … The shift occurred in the mid-1980s when the French stud book was opened for five years to crossbreeding with foreign trotters( mainly American). Jean-Pierre Dubois immediately grasped the stakes and explained at the time:“ I had already raced in the U. S. and noticed they had some strange young trotters. Nesmile and Nevadara were the only two fillies I had with potential. I sent them while they were still young. Opening the stud book was essential. If we hadn’ t, we would have been wiped out. We needed fresh blood. In France, we were going in circles. Genetically, it was too limited. I saw the Americans were way ahead in type and development. Their horses were faster, sturdier. We had to integrate them- but wisely. We had to cross them intelligently.” Dubois made a reasoned choice:“ The two leading sires at the time were Speedy Crown and Super Bowl. But they were too big for my already strong mares. And they were too expensive—$ 50,000 per covering. Speedy Somolli and Royal Prestige, on the other hand, cost $ 20,000 and suited my mares better. They were smaller. Speedy Somolli was 1.55m tall, with tremendous speed and strong hocks. Royal Prestige was small and stocky, less impressive. I used both, along with Baltic Speed— another small horse— and Ambro Goal, well-bred but with a tendency to drag his hocks. We brought back the embryos. Nesmile’ s foals produced Buvetier d’ Aunou, Défi d’ Aunou, Unispeed, Amour d’ Aunou …”
Buvetier & Défi d’ Aunou: the first dynasty Buvetier d’ Aunou proved to be a star both on the track and at stud, and an outstanding broodmare sire. He won top Group 1 races such as the Critérium des Jeunes, Critérium des 4 Ans, and Prix de Sélection. At stud, he produced numerous Group race winners, including 2015 Prix d’ Amérique winner Up And Quick, and Gobernador, who was sold by Dubois to Pierre-Désiré Allaire for Écurie des Charmes and won four Group 1 races in just over two months. Ganymède, winner of two Group 1 races including one in Oslo, was another prolific sire, father of Elitloppet 2019 champion Dijon and many others. His younger brother Défi d’ Aunou( by Armbro Goal) surpassed him in earnings with nearly
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