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Longchamp with Ervedya in 2015, and, later, the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club and the Coral-Eclipse Stakes with Vadeni in 2022.
NINE GROUP 1S IN A SINGLE SEASON, AND TWO“ ARCS” TO COMPLETE THE PICTURE The year 2016 would be another great one for Jean- Claude Rouget, who repeated his 2009 Classic double with Almanzor(“ Jockey Club”) and La Cressonnière(“ Diane”). The filly also won the Poule d’ Essai des Pouliches, and the colt the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes and the Champion Stakes. As for Qemah, she landed the Coronation Stakes and the Prix Rothschild, while Jemayel shone in the Pour Moi Coolmore Prix Saint- Alary and Zelzal in the Prix Jean Prat. The champion trainer thus notched up nine Group 1 wins over the season. He was at the height of his fame and in demand from all sides. His string kept growing, passing the two-hundred mark. So he split it in two, opening a satellite yard in Deauville in 2018. The Normandy training centre would give him three more Prix du Jockey Club, with Sottsass in 2019, Vadeni in 2022 and Ace Impact in 2023 – in all, he won six, Brametot completing the list in 2017 – and, the icing on the cake, his two Qatar Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe, with Sottsass in 2020 and Ace Impact in 2023.
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ITW CRISTIAN DEMURO
BY PAUL-ROLAND CASABIANCA
“ JEAN-CLAUDE IS FAMILY TO ME”
Having been at Jean- Claude Rouget’ s side over the last ten years, Cristian Demuro, crowned Cravache d’ Or( French Flat champion jockey) in 2025, looks back with emotion, respect and admiration on the journey they shared, symbolised by two victories in the Qatar Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe.
GALORAMA. You arrived in France in 2013. How and when did your partnership with Jean-Claude Rouget begin?
Cristian Demuro. I got to know Jean-Claude through Gérard Augustin-Normand in 2016. At the time, I was the stable’ s second jockey, behind Grégory Benoist. I had the opportunity to ride for him in Toulouse and won my first Listed race on one of his horses. Then Grégory Benoist landed a retainer as first jockey for Al Shaqab Racing, and I became Mr Augustin- Normand’ s first jockey. That is where our partnership began. He came to trust me more and more with every race. Together we won the Poule d’ Essai des Pouliches( Gr. 1) with La Cressonnière, my first Group 1 in France. He then asked me to become first jockey for his stable, and of course I accepted.
G. How would you describe the bond between you, both professionally and personally?
C. D. I learned a great deal thanks to him. He always gave very good advice but, you know, Jean-Claude doesn’ t talk much. In the end, we hardly needed to communicate to understand each other. One look was enough to know whether I liked a horse, and vice versa. Away from the racecourse, we shared many meals. Jean- Claude is a generous person and I had the chance to spend a lot of time with him.
G. Together you have won numerous Group 1s, including two Qatar Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe with Sottsass and Ace Impact. What do these two victories mean to you, and which one gave you the strongest emotions?
C. D. Winning the“ Arc” had always been a dream of mine. Winning it twice is something quite extraordinary, especially with Jean-Claude. My first“ Arc”, with Sottsass, was during Covid. The grandstands weren’ t full, but it was already fabulous. The second time, with Ace Impact, I was able to fully enjoy the moment and experience unique emotions. With 100 metres to go, I was travelling so easily that I had time to savour it. This second victory was also symbolic for Jean- Claude and for the whole stable. In 2023 we didn’ t have many good horses, and it was more or less Ace Impact who saved the season. There was a bit of stress before the
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