ENGLISH TEXTS fair one.” Nicolas Bertran de Balanda can only confirm this.“ My father demands work well done. He certainly wasn’ t the easiest boss. He is someone rigorous, driven by the will to win.” Another word, according to his son, defines him well:“ Instinct.”“ He had his methods, but relied a lot on feeling.” When Marcel Roland mentions a sensitivity not always easy to suspect, Nicolas agrees once again:“ That’ s true, but the shell is thick,” he says with a smile. At the time of the tribute celebrating his 47-year career at Auteuil, that shell lost some of its resilience. On Jehan Bertran de Balanda’ s face, the emotion was palpable.“ It was a very powerful moment for him. He was touched by the summary of his achievements and by the people close to him. It shook him a little.”
“ Simple things” Does JBB feel passion for anything other than horses? One would have to wonder whether such an all-consuming passion leaves room for other pursuits. Beyond that, he likes“ simple things”:“ Seeing his grandchildren, spending good times with people he loves, enjoying a nice little restaurant, but he’ s a reasonable person.” No, no particular hobby beyond horses. Like many of the old guard, Jehan Bertran de Balanda is made of that wood. Except perhaps for one thing: a fairly sustained interest in art, especially if it is a painting signed by Hubert de Wattrigant, a friend whom“ he asked to paint his best horses.”“ He greatly admires his work.” On occasion, his relatives know that a small soft spot for a sculpture, a fine bronze discovered at Drouot, or a painting of a horse, hunting scene or bullfight will inevitably bring a smile and his appreciation.
“ Apparently, he’ s taking up a bit of golf” Faced with such a dynasty, one might expect large family gatherings to have long upheld traditions such as Christmas. But with the Balanda saga spread across the world, with cousins and second cousins in all four“ corners” of the globe, the reality is more intimate. Since November, Jehan Bertran de Balanda has settled with his wife in their second home, south of Pont-l’ Évêque, just a stone’ s throw from his two sons, who are also based in Normandy. What will his retirement look like?“ Apparently, he’ s taking up a bit of golf, but otherwise I think he doesn’ t really know yet. What is certain is that he will keep a foot in the horse world, through advisory activities.” Years go by without passion retreating. Careers come to an end, but the works remain.
BY PAUL CASABIANCA
TOP 5 OF JEHAN BERTAN DE BALANDA’ S
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BEST PERFORMERS
After 47 years of career and more than 1,800 victories, it is difficult to mention all the successes of the former trainer from Le Mans. Here is a selection of five horses who, in their own way, left their mark on the immense career of Jehan Bertran de Balanda..
Trypolo, forever the first Because first times are never forgotten, Jehan Bertran de Balanda is not about to forget the date of November 17, 1985. At the Auteuil racecourse, that day, Trypolo offered him his first Group 1, in the flagship event for 4-year-olds: the Prix Maurice et Jean Gillois – Grand Steeple-Chase. After turning 30 in the summer of 1984, the Toulouse native shone at the very highest level in the temple of NH racing. In an extremely close finish, Trypolo( Apollo Eight), recognizable by his lovely grey coat, edged out Mister Sy by a short head for victory. To the great delight of his mentor, who won his first Group 1 at the age of 31. Trypolo himself ended his career at the age of 10 with 10 wins and 37 placings from 79 starts.
Le Sauvignon, the unbeatable Fourteen years after his first Group 1 title, Philastre, winner in 1999 of the Prix Maurice Gillois – Grand Steeple-Chase for 4-yearolds, allowed Jehan Bertran de Balanda to reach the top again for the second time in
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