ENGLISH TEXTS
but still quite weak and he needed that year to build up his stamina and use his speed which he’ d always had and jumping ability. It did him the world of good going for those races and he did very well result in a win in their Grand steeple chase.” This was evidence and further proof that they had a very good horse, so much so that he got an entry in to the King George at Kempton, but it still wasn’ t clear if he was the true stayer, they thought he was.“ We decided after that win to send him for the George Courtois afterwards and it cemented what we had always believed really as he won it giving four kilos in heavy ground to a very good and solid yard stick in Eddy de Balme who had danced every dance and had been third in a grade 1.” With Compiegne conquered as a 6-year-old, all eyes were on the grand steeple chase de Paris but 2023 proved a not so straightforward year for who I call the big friendly giant Gran diose as a splint before his prep race and a unwelcomed sickness made him miss the race. A return in the Autumn and a slightly better prep saw him step up in to the unknown in the Haye Jousselin and finish second to Grandeur Nature.” That was an almighty run as he had to do a lot of the donkey work from the front which wouldn’ t be ideal as he is quite an anxious horse and likes company, but he tried his heart out and James gave him a lovely ride”.
That was the last time Reveley has sat on the horse in public as Clement Lefevre was given the role of leading jockey to owner Frederic Hinderze.“ James deserved a huge mention and a lot of credit for the success in Gran diose career as he has helped make the horse what he is. Clement then had the task of needing to get to know the horse, so we decided on two races before the Grand steeple, and he progressed lovely and Clement and him started to gel. I remember driving to Auteuil on the day thinking this horse will run absolutely his best today, I just couldn’ t see him running a bad race and whatever the result is this is as good as he is as he was in the form of his life.” Its’ incredible to think that a feeling four and a half years ago before his first ever race told them he was going to be a staying chaser and then on a Sunday in May as an eight-year-old he proved to them that they were right by winning the biggest steeple chase in France. Sometimes sport doesn’ t always work out s you think it might especially with horses and Gran diose career reflects that with some defeats earlier on and a season they probably didn’ t plan to have but they reached the pinnacle of jumps racing and then confirmed that he is the best around and put his name in the history books by returning to the scene of his greatest triumph later that year and win the Haye Josselin by five lengths exacting revenge on Grandeur Nature. So, what’ s in store for 2025 I asked Louisa“ he grew a lot in confidence last year if you can believe me with those two big wins so we will go for just the one race now the Prix Ingre before the Grand steeple chase. We know what’ s best for him now and the jockey knows him to.” One thing I certainly know, is he won’ t be overlooked or underestimated when it comes to the big day in May.
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BREEDING
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Par Jocelyn de Moubray
YEGUADA CENTURION
The transformation of the quality of stallions in France over the last fifteen years has been well documented and widely recognized. At the same time there have been significant new investors in breeding in France, some of whom have already achieved success at the highest level.
Leopoldo Pujals’ Yeguada Centurion has invested millions in breeding in France over the last eight years, and it has to be acknowledged that the results have been spectacularly good. The way
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