HEADLINE NEWS
wasn ’ t an easy time . He and his wife then made a gesture that betrayed real kindness and benevolence . On another occasion , he gave me a very nice pair of binoculars , claiming that he found them too big for him . These binoculars have accompanied us on many of our journeys , including when we went to race Zalataia in the United States . I remember it as if it were yesterday . We were both watching the filly ’ s race with our respective binoculars when André , in the last turn , generally impassive , said to me : « Shit , it ’ s all over !». The filly had been badly hampered in the turn . That was without counting on Freddy Head ’ s talent and the filly ’ s class . She came back to take the prize near the finish . You know , in 1983 , going to race Stateside for modest French people was exceptional and daring .” Another memory that helps to better understand André Fabre is the story of Tuesday ’ s Special . I ’ d spotted this horse in Rouen . Very far back at the start of the race , he ’ d finished well and I liked that . I followed him and he won before disappointing , even running with blinkers without success . He was then entered in the end-of-season sales . I told André Fabre about his profile . He said , « Why not ?». I then suggested I ask a lad from the stable he was with . His answer was clear and definitive ! « If you ask anyone for information , I won ’ t buy the horse and I won ’ t train it ... I ’ ll go and see it myself and I ’ ll decide .” I obeyed . He liked the horse and we bought it successfully , as it won several races including the Exbury ( Gr3 ) and was exported . There aren ’ t many trainers capable of that sort of thing ! What makes him André Fabre ? He understands racing better than anyone else . He has an uncommon analysis and sensitivity . When I watched races with him , he was unbeatable . He understood the race live in terms of the horse ’ s aptitude , in terms of harmony with the rider . Not all good jockeys are suited to every horse . He understands this intrinsically . When it comes to horses , he has a well-rounded perspective , excelling also at polo , another of his passions . He is an inquisitive man , well-read , and shares his love of horses with his wife Elisabeth . Crucially , he doesn ’ t over-race his horses , allowing them time to develop and reach their full potential . Tribalist ’ s recent success in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp is a prime example .”
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MASTER OF RIDERS
When André Fabre chose to focus on training Flat horses in 1983 , the big names in the weighing room were Yves Saint-Martin , Freddy Head , Alain Lequeux and Lester Piggott . Then came Cash Asmussen , Thierry Jarnet , Olivier Peslier , Christophe Soumillon , Pierre-Charles Boudot , Mickaël Barzalona and Maxime Guyon , all of whom won the Cravache d ’ Or ( French champion jockey title ), mostly thanks to the horses entrusted to them by André Fabre . There were also less successful trials , such as Gary Stevens and Bauyrzhan Murzabayev , because although horses do almost everything , no stable , which is also made up of owners , has enough leeway to train a jockey for very long . He was able to secure the services of one or two riders for a long time , but had to contend with his owners ’ contracts , and seems to have always favoured a certain discretion . For example , he only gave the explosive Lanfranco Dettori 48 rides ! François Mathet , André Fabre ’ s predecessor at the top of the French rankings , did not seek performance on the morning of the races . Nor did his successor . « My team of work riders in the morning gives me complete satisfaction . We know each other well . I ’ m happy with this situation ,» he told François Hallopé in the columns of Week-end 34 years ago . « For a jockey , riding a ‘ Fabre ’ is a treat ,» explains one of those who has done so on numerous occasions . It ’ s as if there was an extra gear to engage , always a little something extra in the fight . The horses are primed and ready , and they don ’ t need anyone to get the best out of them . Besides , we don ’ t like to challenge a ‘ Fabre ’ too
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