ENGLISH TEXTS
ling colts to sell as a lot for 800,000 francs. That was a lot of money back then! He added that he wouldn’ t show me any others, they weren’ t worth it. Mr. Wildenstein gave me full authority. So Jean-Pierre and I went to Haras des Coudraies in the Orne. It was a Sunday morning. They showed us four beautiful bay colts and Kotkijet was among them. But Jean-Pierre wanted to see the rest. When we got back in the car, he said:“ We have to buy them all.” One of his golden rules was that if you buy a lot, you don’ t leave a horse behind. I called Mr. de Montesson and said:“ We’ ll take all eight for 700,000 francs.” He was taken aback but agreed. I had an unbeatable argument, he’ d told me the other four were worthless! Yet one of them, Indien Bleu, turned out to be a very good horse. All eight turned out well. It was the deal of the century!
G. And how did Kotkijet become Kotkijet?
F. S. Forty-eight hours after our visit, as soon as Mr. de Montesson gave the green light, Jean-Pierre took all eight yearlings. Two days later, they were gelded and turned out for a year in a large uphill pasture on his stud farm, to build strength and develop properly. Kotkijet was broken in by Jean- Pierre himself, who was also his first trainer. In 2000, after a long break due to a health issue, he was entrusted to Jean-Paul Gallorini. At training, Kotkijet was so full of energy he went out with every lot! In the afternoons, he jogged in the park at Maisons-Laffitte, it helped his fragile legs. Jean-Pierre even had a swimming pool built for him. He’ s the most impressive horse I’ ve ever seen at Auteuil.
G. Tell us about the day of the 2001 Grand Steeplechase de Paris...
F. S. We had enormous hope and pressure. Jean-Pierre had said he might not come, but I spotted his chauffeur, so I knew he was there. He stayed outside, among the crowd, and was the first to congratulate Kotkijet’ s jockey, Thierry Majorcryk, on the track. Daniel Wildenstein was upstairs in the owners’ area. He was already ill, his doctor was with him, incidentally the father of actor Michel Boujenah. After the victory, Daniel was so moved that he felt unwell— he was visibly shaken. Dr. Boujenah suggested I go down for the trophy ceremony with Sylvia, Mr. Wildenstein’ s wife, while he stayed with him. Later, Mr. Wildenstein felt better. Jean-Pierre went up to congratulate him. They had realized their dream! Daniel didn’ t drink Champagne, but out of courtesy, he touched the glass to his lips. That day, Mr. Wildenstein stayed at Auteuil until the last race, a rare thing for him. At the end of the day, he said to me:“ I’ ve got bad news for you: Mr. Viel waited fifty years to win the Prix d’ Amérique. He won it and died three months later. To- day, I’ ve lived my dream, so you might be about to lose a major client!” Daniel Wildenstein passed away in October, five months after Kotkijet’ s first Grand Steeple.
G. Did your partnership with Jean-Pierre Dubois end with your shared client’ s death?
F. S. No, because that led into Jean-Pierre Dubois’ American phase. He’ s an adventurer and a pioneer! It was a stroke of genius to send trotting mares to be covered in the U. S. Jean-Pierre wanted to conquer the States. He settled in New Jersey, where there was a good trotting circuit, but success was limited, I think he would’ ve needed to be there full-time. Then we went to Lexington to buy thoroughbreds and partnered on broodmares. We also traveled to Dubai, Abu Dhabi... It was never boring, always a challenge!
G. After all these experiences with Jean-Pierre Dubois, how would you describe the man?
F. S. He’ s the hardest worker I’ ve ever met. His days start at 5 a. m. and run into the night. He spends his life on planes and never complains, though I know he hates the cold and loves the sun! He has incredibly sharp instincts. When a horse walks by, he just knows if it’ s good. He started very young and carries seventy years of passion. He’ s intensely curious. When he visits a stud farm, the first place he goes is the feed room, he believes
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