ENGLISH VERSION the adventure of a whole working life came to an end at ParisLongchamp in October 2026 for Jean- René Dubosc. Right to the end, Jean-Claude Rouget impressed him:“ How many people do you know who would have kept going until 73, while battling such an illness, in the job we do and with the energy it demands?” The former trainer and his lifelong right-hand man live fairly close to each other, in the Béarn. They see each other from time to time. Jean-René Dubosc will at last allow himself to think of“ the boss” as his friend.
ITW FRÉDÉRIC PONTHIER
BY PAUL-ROLAND CASABIANCA
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“ OUR BEST WAS NOT ENOUGH FOR HIM”
A former jump jockey in the south-west, the man everyone calls“ Pompon” was one of Jean-Claude Rouget’ s trusted men for almost 20 years. This travelling lad, who accompanied the stars Sottsass and Ace Impact all the way to the top in the Qatar Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe, thought very highly of Jean-Claude Rouget, a perfectionist trainer and an endearing man.
GALORAMA. For those who don’ t know you, tell us about your background and how you came to join Jean-Claude Rouget’ s stable …
Frédéric Ponthier. I was based in Pau. I had stopped race-riding, but I wanted to carry on riding good horses in their work, for a decent wage. I said to myself: the only one who can give me that is Jean-Claude Rouget. I’ m giving up jumping – never mind, I’ ll try the Flat. I sent my CV and covering letter, and that’ s how my adventure with Mr Rouget began. It lasted 18 years.
G. Jean-Claude Rouget was known for his rigour, his high standards and his professionalism. What was your working relationship like and, after all those years at his side, what was his main fault?
F. P. When I was a work rider, we had very little contact. I mostly talked to his assistants. When I became travelling lad, we spoke more regularly, but everything was well oiled and well put together. I didn’ t call him to tell him everything had gone well. If I called him, it was only when there was a problem, which was rare because, I’ ll say it again, the machine was very well oiled. His only fault, perhaps, was that when he yelled, he really yelled, but he never did it for nothing. It was a fault without being a fault, because it was to put right what wasn’ t working, to always do the best with and for the horses, to strive for perfection. Jean-Claude was a great perfectionist. He was very hard on himself and, as a result, very hard on others. His best was never good enough for him. And in the end that’ s a great quality, because thanks to him, I brought that same rigour to my work, so that everything was shipshape and organised. He left nothing to chance. Everything was planned and everything worked like clockwork.
G. Beyond his high standards, what struck you most about him?
F. P. Jean-Claude saw things differently from everyone else. He had a gift for spotting good horses, for seeing the little detail that would make the difference. I think it’ s a gift. Things other people didn’ t see, he saw. That always impressed me about him. Around a hundred yearlings arrived at the stables every year. He could go on holiday for a month and, when he came back, he could give you the pedigree of every single one. He had seen them once at the sales, or maybe twice at the stud, but he already knew them all. He had an exceptional knowledge of horses. I’ ve always been in awe of what he knew.
G. Behind the most successful professional in Europe, there is also the man, the one people get to know away from the races. What kind of man lies behind the trainer?
F. P. Mr Rouget is a very likeable, approachable and affectionate person. In the
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