ENGLISH TEXTS
from 1992 onwards), Jean- Pierre Dubois has racked up 128 wins in Group 1, 2, or 3 races …! Whether as a breeder, trainer, owner, or driver, Jean- Pierre Dubois has left an indelible mark on the world of horse racing in France, both in trot and gallop. A record of achievement that, remarkably, has never altered the“ chef’ s” mindset, whose humility rivals only his success.
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3. THE DYNASTY
� PAGE 75
THE KEY WITNESS
FRÉDÉRIC SAUQUE
By Céline Gualde
Renowned bloodstock agent Frédéric Sauque has worked with major clients in both trotting and flat racing. Among many successful ventures, he syndicated the stallion career of the legendary Ready Cash and managed the interests of Lebanese owner Moufid Dabaghi, who owned Al Nasr, André Fabre’ s first Group 1 winner on the flat. Frédéric Sauque was also the trusted advisor of art dealer, owner and breeder Daniel Wildenstein, whom he encouraged to partner with none other
than Jean-Pierre Dubois. That adventure led to victories in both the Prix d’ Amérique and the Grand Steeplechase de Paris!
Galorama. How and why did Daniel Wildenstein and Jean-Pierre Dubois become partners?
Frédéric Sauque. At that time, Mr. Wildenstein had already won the Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe three times *. He wanted to become the best in trotting too and I advised him to team up with Jean-Pierre Dubois to help him on that path. I told him Dubois was an exceptional man, who was twenty years ahead of everyone else in trotting thanks to his American bloodlines. At first, Mr. Wildenstein declined, he didn’ t want a partner. I told him bluntly,“ Then you’ ll never top the standings!” Two days later, he called me back. He’ d thought it over and was on board. Jean-Pierre Dubois visited him at his gallery on rue de la Boétie in Paris. The meeting lasted twenty minutes, they hit it off immediately. That was in 1992.
G. Had you already met Jean-Pierre Dubois yourself?
F. S. Not really. Our first real meeting was in Normandy during the Wildenstein project. I’ d just arrived from Paris, in a suit, and we started off with two hours on a tractor! He wanted to see if I could handle it. We began talking and by dinnertime, I was still there!
G. A partnership between two men as different as Dubois and Wildenstein seems surprising!
F. S. They may have seemed like polar opposites, but they had deep respect for one another. Each wanted to please the other and never let him down. Daniel Wildenstein used to say of Jean-Pierre Dubois:“ He’ s not a man, he’ s a horse, he thinks like a horse!” He became the leading trotting owner in France and stayed at the top for seven years, up to the year 2000. In 1996, Coktail Jet won the Prix d’ Amérique before becoming a leading sire.
G. But why partner with Jean-Pierre Dubois in jumps racing? That seems less natural...
F. S. On rare occasions, Mr. Wildenstein and Jean-Pierre Dubois would have lunch together, with me present. One of those lunches was in 1996, four years into their partnership, just after the Prix d’ Amérique win. A memorable lunch! Jean-Pierre asked Mr. Wildenstein what his ultimate dream in racing was. The answer came instantly:“ To win the Grand Steeple!” Jean-Pierre immediately replied,“ we’ ll do it together!” As we left Wildenstein’ s place, Jean-Pierre said to me:“ Now it’ s your turn, find the right horse!” I called Count de Montesson, who had an excellent breeding operation— he’ d bred Katko, a three-time Grand Steeple winner, and brother to Kotkijet. He told me he had four outstanding year-
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