ENGLISH TEXTS
Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe( Gr. 1) with Bago in 2004 for Jonathan Pease’ s training operation. Jehan was waiting for me in the centre of the presentation ring after the prize-giving and hugged me. He had no runner that day and had come especially for me. Today we no longer have a professional relationship and are simply friends. We often have lunch together to talk about everything … and not very much about racing at all!”
BY LOÏC STECHER CHOCRON
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JEAN-PIERRE RAYMOND
A 40-YEAR FRIENDSHIP …“ AND THE STORY CONTINUES WITH JEHAN”
He was the longest-standing owner with Jehan Bertran de Balanda, a title of which he is proud, and rightly so. Jean- Pierre Raymond has won three editions of the Grande Course de Haies d’ Enghien, as well as other Group races. Not bad for a small owner!
Jean-Pierre Raymond and Jehan Bertran de Balanda are inseparable, and for good reason. This friendship and shared passion for horses began 40 years ago in Deauville.“ Jehan had me buy two yearlings at the Summer Sale,” Jean-Pierre Raymond recalls.“ Among them was Astronomer, who later won the Grande Course de Haies d’ Enghien. Since then, we’ ve been best friends! I have never changed trainer. For a small owner like me, Jehan enabled me to experience unforgettable moments by winning Group races. There was Musardo, who also won the biggest hurdle race at Enghien. Some of my horses have placed at Group 1 level, such as Hades, the most recent one.” But beyond this glowing record, Jean-Pierre Raymond above all highlights the horseman that Jehan Bertran de Balanda is.“ He loves horses. We experienced racing in the same way. I gave him my complete trust. He was crowned Cheval d’ Or, and when you can rely on a talented trainer, everything becomes much easier. There were good times, and others that were less so. You simply had to accept that.” Their shared journey is far from over. Still as enthusiastic as ever— which is a pleasure to see and hear— Jean-Pierre Raymond exclaims:“ The story continues! Jehan kept me in the loop. He wanted to stop. He made the right decision. It wasn’ t easy. We had spoken about it together long before he publicly announced his retirement. His final victory was in keeping with his career: magnificent( editor’ s note: Ocre won the Prix Sytaj( Gr. 3) at Auteuil in November 2025). Of course, the end of his career is a huge personal loss. For example, I placed my horses with Dominique Bressou, who, as a jockey, won several good races for my colours. With my friend
Jehan, we will continue to have horses together.”
BY LOÏC STECHER CHOCRON
NATHAN VERGNE
“ JEHAN GAVE ME THE KEYS TO HIS YARD”
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Chance sometimes works wonders. When I get in touch with Nathan Vergne, he is sitting at the table with … Jehan Bertran de Balanda.“ Call me back later.” Message received. Since December 2025, the young trainer has been based in the facilities of his elder.“ We have been based in Maisons-Laffitte since December 15, 2025,” Nathan Vergne says at the start of our conversation. Last year, the breaker and pre-trainer, who was based at the Haras de l’ Espérance in Genneteil, Maine-et- Loire, took the step up and obtained his public trainer’ s licence. Specialising in schooling horses over obstacles, he had already made a name for himself in the discipline at Auteuil: horses such as Léopard du Berlais, Matin Midi Et Soir, Game Of Storm and Kibboutz all passed through his yard.“ At first, I didn’ t know Jehan Bertran de Balanda personally, but I did know his son Nicolas, who is a friend of mine. It was actually Nicolas who put us in touch after Jehan announced to his children that he wanted to retire from the profession. We both
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