ENGLISH VERSION
Jean-Claude Rouget’ s tips, methods or philosophies deserve to be passed on to the younger generations?
C. P. As a fan of Mr Rouget, there are many, but I would keep his philosophy of progression. Let me explain. Mr Rouget always says that a maiden should be won easily. Debutants are always at 80 %. If the colts and fillies don’ t win first time out, or even on their second or third starts, then he takes more time to look at other options. On the other hand, if the horses win, they move up in class.
G. A final word …
C. P. I can never thank Mr Rouget enough for giving me this chance. I wouldn’ t be where I am today without him. 2019 was an incredible year, bringing me that Cravache d’ Or. He never made me feel like a“ woman jockey”. He treated me like everyone else. Thanks to him, I always felt I belonged. And it was also thanks to him that I was in the saddle on Zelda in the Emirates Poule d’ Essai des Pouliches, my first Group 1.
ITW IORITZ MENDIZABAL
BY CÉCILE ADONIAS
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THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF HARD WORK AND MUTUAL RESPECT
Three decades of close understanding, doubts, trials and successes: Ioritz Mendizabal looks back on his unique story with Jean- Claude Rouget. The tale of an unshakeable loyalty, forged through high standards and respect.
Fresh from Dax, Ioritz Mendizabal joined Jean- Claude Rouget in 1991. Even then, he was the trainer“ you had to be with”. At first, Ioritz wanted to join the stable to see how it worked and, above all, whether he could find his place there. In the end,“ I never jumped ship,” he says. Then an apprentice, he soon lost his claim after a break to do his military service in Spain. As for many apprentices, a long period of doubt followed, as he was no longer riding for Jean-Claude Rouget and his stable.“ I had to hang in there – he didn’ t do me any favours,” Ioritz explains. Then, little by little, seeing him win for various trainers, particularly the Spanish ones, Jean-Claude gave his stable jockey rides again.“ I often beat him with horses that had come from Spain, and that got him thinking.” Trust grew and the partnership took shape. Ioritz says simply that Jean- Claude Rouget is a“ tough but fair” boss. He is someone who is“ very demanding, and that’ s only logical”. He expected his team always to be at the top of their game, so that the horses would be too. Jean-Claude Rouget had his own way of doing things:“ he was the one who set the rules, and you had to abide by them. But over the years he mellowed,” Ioritz explains.“ Back then he wasn’ t easy to deal with, and it wasn’ t always straightforward. But I have a personal attachment to Jean-Claude. You see, I have to call him today.” It quickly becomes clear that the bonds forged between the trainer and the jockey will not come undone any time soon, after so many years of work and respect. Ioritz continues:“ Deep down, I knew my place was there. Sometimes I wanted to leave. That’ s normal. There was a period of a year and a half when I didn’ t ride a single winner for him. That’ s a long time, a very long time! I had second thoughts, I had offers, but deep down I knew I had to stay with the stable. Jean-Claude never promised me the moon. I knew that, with time, things would get better. I just had to be patient. He didn’ t say much – I had to learn to read him. It was my choice to stay, and I know I was right.” The pair enjoyed many successes over the years, but a few memories stand out more than others. In 2004, Ioritz won his first Cravache d’ Or( French Flat champion jockey title). He would win three more, in 2008, 2009 and 2010. A special moment, because it was the first time a jockey based in the provinces had won it.“ Usually it was the Paris-based jockeys who won it,” Ioritz comments. As for victories, Puchkine’ s flying performance in the Haras d’ Etreham Prix Jean
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