ENGLISH TEXTS
tuagenarian, now smitten with French racing, has also found success with readyto-run purchases. A stunning winner of the Prix des Réservoirs last fall, Gezora surged through heavy ground that day in what would be her final run in the silks of her breeder, Haras d’ Etreham. Bought privately by Peter Brant on the sound advice of his French bloodstock agent Michel Zérolo, the sensational sprinter now has a date with destiny: an invitation to run in the Qatar Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe, five years after her stablemate Sottsass’ s glorious victory. And since her owner hates to lose, consider this your warning.
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By Loïc Stecher Chocron
DIAMOND CARL, LAURENCE GAGNEUX’ S PASSION
Her Diamond Carl won the 2025 Grand Steeplechase de Paris( Gr. 1). And to think she almost missed the race that day at Auteuil— out of superstition. A portrait of Diamond Carl and Laurence Gagneux, the proud breeder of the 2025 French Gold Cup winner. A hard worker, walking against the tide of trends.
It’ s the ultimate dream for any jump horse breeder, words that inspire awe: Grand Steeplechase de Paris. Laurence Gagneux has now joined the exclusive circle of breeders who have won this race. The mission of a lifetime, one devoted to horses. At all costs, day after day, years of effort and even sacrifice.“ It’ s tough,” she says simply. When I get in touch, she’ s still on cloud nine, and for good reason. She’ s still coming to terms with what’ s happened. That day, she was preparing a huge celebration, with over 100 guests expected. Of course, it was above all a tribute to Diamond Carl’ s victory, and also, in part, to the end of foaling season— around forty foals each year. Laurence Gagneux doesn’ t rest much and recalls the day everything changed:“ I absolutely didn’ t want to go to Auteuil. Xavier Papot, the horse’ s co-owner, pushed me into it. The only time I’ d seen Diamond Carl race before, he’ d fallen— last year, in the Prix La Haye Jousselin. This time, I went with my daughter, three employees, and an apprentice. That morning, the jockey was changed, and the horse hadn’ t jumped well the previous time. He’ d had an issue with his withers. In short, I was terrified, tense. I only started paying attention to the race at the second-last fence.” Laurence Gagneux settled at Haras des Éclos, in Le Pin- au-Haras in the Orne, back in 1988. The site now spans 65 hectares and 36 boxes. She’ s clear:“ Outdoors, but not wild. They’ re far from neglected. The foals are regularly handled.” She strongly believes in outdoor breeding. Once weaned, her foals spend their first winter outside, between pastures and open barns.“ I was originally into show-jumping horses,” she explains,“ and I wanted to be a riding instructor. I’ ve always loved eventing. I had children very young and returned to my native Normandy. Pierre Julienne had just bought Haras des Cruchettes. Bit by bit, the racing world began to attract me too. I used to ride out for Guy Paris in Aubry-en-Exmes— almost a neighbor.” And what about Diamond Carl? Laurence can talk endlessly about him, and she has plenty of stories.“ I chose Diamond Boy because he’ s a son of Mansonnien. There weren’ t many of those around. I wanted something cheap and close by. That goes against a lot of breeding theories. Some lower-priced stallions don’ t get enough opportunities or access to quality mares- yet they still produce good horses. I’ ve had that problem with my own stallions like Jimble, Rochesson, and Cupidon. As for Diamond Carl’ s maternal line, it came to Éclos through his great-granddam. Fleur Boréale was a flat mare who won in the Paris region in the 1990s,
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