French trainer Jerome Reynier is not afraid to travel his horses and is eyeing an audacious tilt at some of the top 2-year-old prizes for fillies in Britain with the progressive Wootton City (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).
But first, Wootton City will line out in the G3 Prix de Cabourg at Deauville on Tuesday before Reynier can allow himself to dream about races like the G2 Lowther S. at York and the G1 Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket, both of which have been pencilled into the filly's diary.
“Wootton City has done well for us and the plan is to run in the Prix de Cabourg on Tuesday before going for the Lowther S. at York. If she is good enough, she is aiming for the G1 Cheveley Park S. and the Lowther would be a good prep for that,” Reynier said.
He added, “We will keep options open with her but she will have to run well against the colts on Tuesday and then we will see how she is. I think she could be even better with a cut in the ground so hopefully she gets that at York in a few weeks' time.”
Reynier is one of the leading trainers in France, which is all the more meritorious considering he trains away from the major training centres in Marseille. He has sent out 65 winners this season and, as well as being on course to record his greatest tally of winners, he is set to eclipse his previous best prize-money haul.
“You can place a horse really well over here and pick up enough prize-money so that the horses are paying for themselves,” Jerome Reynier, trainer.
Prize-money in France is far more lucrative than in Britain and Ireland, where some trainers have voiced concerns over the exodus of equine talent and the paltry pots that horses are running for.
Mark Johnston, one of the most successful trainers in Britain and the dual Classic-winning handler Ger Lyons, told TDN Europe recently about their growing concerns for British and Irish racing
However, Reynier says that the excellent prize-money in France means owners have a realistic chance of making the game pay, meaning they don't need to be as trigger-happy about cashing in on their horses compared to Britain and Ireland.
He explained, “Horses are able to make money in France through the prize-money that they earn, which is probably the only place in Europe where this can happen. Obviously, many people have different views but say someone like Mr Seroul [Reynier's biggest supporter], he has no interest in selling his best horses because he does not need the money and he's having a lot of fun with them. There have been big offers for Wootton City but he has turned them down because he really wants to keep her as a broodmare for the future.
“Someone like him is not interested at all in private deals but obviously, for others, when the money is offered, it may make sense for them to cash in and reinvest the money elsewhere. “That's part of the game and we have to be open to offers. We're in the process of selling one horse to Japan right now, another to Australia and we are trying to sell another to America as well so you need to keep the ball rolling and keep every owner happy. We are really open-minded.”
He added, “The way our horses are campaigned, it's not like England or Ireland–we are not trying to win first time. We are not as offensive in the morning and, speaking for myself, we use races to build them up and like our horses to progress with every run.
“We like building up our athletes the right way but, if you are a commercially-minded trainer who wants to sell them on, you are going to start doing some races in the morning to make sure you pick the best one to run on the track and you will want to be winning first time out to sell them on. It's a short-term perspective.
“When you don't have the prize-money and the opposition is so high you don't have the luxury of waiting too long as you do in France. Yes, France is a really competitive place, but you can place a horse really well over here and pick up enough prize-money so that the horses are paying for themselves.”
There are countless examples of that, even at the lower levels. Reynier, a graduate of the esteemed Darley Flying Start course, has experienced racing all over the world but described the prize-money at the middle to lower tiers in France and the incentives involved for owners in his home country as being unique.
“Look at a horse like Happy Harry (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}),” he explained. “We claimed him back in January and he has had 11 starts for us since then. He has won once and placed in all of his other starts and has amassed over €70,000. He is rated just 33, which is the equivalent of about 70 in Britain or Ireland, so it's huge money earned in handicap and maiden races for a horse of that level and in the space of just six months. It really shows that, if a horse is well-managed, you can earn a lot of money in France.”
He added, “Not only that, but every horse gets €3,000 per year towards their travel expenses and, if you aren't placed, you don't have to pay any travel expenses towards your trip. I had three runners at Le Touquet, which is probably the furthest track from my base in Marseille, on Friday and because I was unlucky and none of them placed, the owners did not have to pay anything towards their travel.”
Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), owned by Jean-Claude Seroul, has been Reynier's main flag-bearer since he set up as a trainer. He became the trainer's first Group 1 winner when landing the Prix d'Ispahan at ParisLongchamp before adding another top-level triumph to his CV at Munich last season.
While Skalleti hit a minor bump in the road after he picked up a minor injury in the G1 Prix Ganay, the 7-year-old is reported to be on course to return in the autumn.
Speaking about Skalleti and the rest of his stable stars, the trainer said, “Skalleti has achieved a lot for us but he is a 7-year-old now and his best performances are probably behind him.
“He had a little setback after the Prix Ganay but we should see him in the autumn on soft ground.”
Reynier added, “We have been very lucky to come across a horse like Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) while Skalleti was out. He is unbeaten in all four of his starts and won his listed race at Chantilly earlier this month. He will go for a group race at Deauville on August 20 so, if he can be competitive in that, it would be amazing.
“We also have Marianachic (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) who has won his last five starts. He's won two stakes races this year and we'll be aiming him at another.”
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