ENGLISH TEXTS
G. Why did you stay so many years in the service of Jehan Bertran de Balanda?
L. V. Mr. de Balanda was quite close to his staff, even though there were naturally occasional flare-ups, as in any relationship. It was a well-organized stable, with an owner who was always fair when it came to his employees’ working hours.
G. Do you remember any trips in particular?
L. V. The stable allowed me to travel to all four corners of France. I particularly remember taking Nahual to the south, where he won the Grand Prix de Cagnes( Listed). I also vividly recall a trip to Lyon. As the mare running there did not travel well, Mr. de Balanda had loaded a kind of life-size statue into the truck with her so she would feel accompanied during the journey. It caused quite a bit of laughter when we arrived at the racecourse.
G. Which horses left the strongest impression on you?
L. V. The list would be too long, but Kauto Stone’ s victory with Christophe Pieux in the Prix Maurice Gillois( Gr. 1) will remain etched in my memory. This horse was blind in one eye and required a great deal of work early in his career. He did not win again for the stable, as his owner decided to send him to England a few months later. The stable ended on a high note with the success of Klovis des Mottes, followed six days later by that of Ocre in a Group 3, on a magnificent day filled with emotion.
BY CÉLINE GUALDE
THIERRY GILLET
” HE TAUGHT ME HOW TO WIN”
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Having arrived at Jehan Bertran de Balanda’ s stable as an apprentice in 1990, Thierry Gillet stayed there for around ten years as an employee. It was there that he blossomed as a jockey, with a strong bond forming between the two men.
“ My friend Christophe Taranne helped me get into Jehan de Balanda’ s yard, where he was working as an assistant. I felt very small compared with the other jockeys who regularly rode for the stable, including the legendary American Cash Asmussen and Alfred Gibert, who was excellent. I gradually made my way, and when those professionals left, I became associated with all the flat horses. At that time Jehan had three training yards at Maisons-Laffitte, which meant a good hundred horses, with great success on both fronts. He was a tough boss but not resentful. If we disappointed him in a race, you could tell from his face that he was annoyed, but he never made a scene on the racecourse. On the other hand, the next day at morning work he would come alongside on his pony, and then the session really felt long! I respected orders as a jockey, but I wasn’ t competitive enough, not disappointed enough when I lost. He taught me to assert myself, to support my horses more while still respecting them, in short, to win! At the beginning of our partnership he gave me very precise instructions before the start, but as time went by I hardly received any at all. We share many wonderful sporting memories, including my first Group victory on the flat, in Milan, with Tarte aux Pommes. We travelled to race together in many places: Germany, Sweden and Turkey, but also Hong Kong … In July 1995 I broke my femur at Fontainebleau while riding for another trainer. I underwent surgery in Paris and when I woke up Jehan was in my hospital room! I spent the whole of August in a rehabilitation centre near Vincennes. Jehan arranged things with my partner so that she would bring me to Deauville at weekends so I could attend the races. I stayed at his place; he gave me my injections and even pushed my wheelchair! He told me not to worry, that I would get my horses back as soon as I returned to the yard, and that’ s exactly what happened. I decided to strike out as a freelance jockey at the beginning of 2000. He supported me and I kept his trust. We continued to work together and Jehan advised me on the choice of my outside rides. I remember that he was there when I won the
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