ENGLISH TEXTS there to ride for Baptiste Letourneux and ended up taking a last-minute mount on a horse called Tulipe de Beaulieu, who, by the way, never won another race in her life.
G. What are your son’ s main qualities?
N. L. Clément is hardworking, has a sharp race-reading ability, and respects others. He’ s also generous with advice for anyone who wants to learn. If he cares about people, he really cares. He’ s had some bad falls, but I think he’ s quite lucky in his choices. That luck showed again in the Grand Steeple, won at the last minute on Diamond Carl. He and his agent, who’ s doing a great job, had chosen not to take lesser chances that day, even if it meant watching the race from the stands. That was the situation just the day before. Clément hardly ever rode for the Papot colors, yet that win on Diamond Carl led to him riding Gold Allen in the Anjou-Loire Challenge ten days later. He loves cross-country, a discipline that requires both a good horse and a smart rider. The Grand Cross of Craon still eludes him, but winning it would be a truly joyful moment.
G. Are you still as involved in pony racing yourself?
N. L. Absolutely. I’ m the pony racing representative for western France and general secretary of the National Pony Racing Association. The association is thriving, even promoting races overseas and in Corsica. Pro- fessionals now understand these events are a pipeline for their own stables. We need to support and encourage children, but above all, it has to be fun for them. That’ s true for all sports.
FABIEN LEFEBVRE Fresh off a Listed win on Purebred Arabian Farida P in Stockholm and enjoying a strong start to the season, Fabien Lefebvre is full of admiration for his younger brother Clément’ s success. The eldest of four siblings( including sisters Aline and Marie), Fabien is a front-row witness to his 8-years-younger brother’ s meteoric rise within a closeknit family.
G. What were your first impressions of Clément on horseback?
F. L. I remember he started riding ponies when he was about 4 or 5. He learned early and had a head start. He absolutely loved it. I probably gave him a few pointers, but I mostly recall telling him not to go straight into jockey school. He was clearly going to be heavier than I was and was aiming for jumps. So I advised him to focus on studies, given the dangers of the sport. Clément could only ride under an amateur license at first, which helped shape him. Then he had all the tools to ride competitively.
G. What are Clément’ s main strengths?
F. L. He’ s simply good and knows his job. What he’ s doing is incredible. His cross-country success proves how well he reads the course. I remember several races he won because his rivals ducked out. Clément is ultra-professional, he knows his horse, he knows the opposition, and he gives valuable feedback to trainers. Winning is just one part of the job. He has real mental strength. Then again, all jumps jockeys are mentally impressive. Clément also has the rare ability to ride everywhere. He can be in Pontivy on Saturday, Auteuil on Sunday, and Nuillé-sur- Vicoin for a cross-country race on Monday. He finds wins in places others don’ t even look. That’ s a huge advantage when you’ re chasing the Champion Jockey title. The whole family is behind him. Family means everything to us, and we’ re lucky that way.
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