… so what better time to look back on an eventful 12 months.
It’s been a great start to our journey, enjoying the very best of everything French racing has to offer.
We’ve loved taking our owners on to the stunning gallops where our horses are trained by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm just outside world-famous Chantilly. Then, enjoying watching our horses run at some delightful racecourses in France and tucking into some superb lunches in wonderful surroundings.
Here’s a quick look at how our horses performed.
Eclair D’Ainay
The first horse we bought for Provence Racing and he did us proud. It was an incredible thrill to watch him win on his first run in our lilac-and-pink colours when not coming off the bridle at Lyon-Parilly. He also won over fences at Cluny in similar fashion and jumped the last in front in a €110,000 handicap at Auteuil before finishing fourth.
In six races, he won nearly €40,000 in prize money and took us to France’s biggest jumps meeting when running on Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris day at Auteuil. He’s now enjoying a well-deserved retirement after picking up a tendon injury in the spring.
Liggets Hill
We had a number of owners keen to buy into an unraced horse, so we acquired this young filly from Noel and Amanda.
She had run once in an Irish point-to-point, so we didn’t know what to expect before her hurdles debut at Auteuil. To see her cruise round and pull three lengths clear going to the last was a huge thrill.
Unfortunately, she made her only mistake at the last hurdle and nearly fell. She fought back bravely to be beaten just a head. As she was going through a growth spurt we gave her plenty of time before bringing her back for two runs in the spring to get her handicapped. We’re looking forward to seeing her run this autumn on her favoured soft ground when she should have lots of opportunities.
Gentleman Valley
We picked up Gentleman Valley cheaply despite him having won three times for Ben Pauling the previous summer.
He has his own way of doing things and likes to make his jockey work to get him down to the start. Once the tapes go up he is absolutely fine, as he showed when runner-up on his debut for us at Senonnes.
He likes good ground and should enjoy a productive autumn. We’ve also got the option of sending him down south to Cagnes-sur-Mer for the winter months. This good-looking horse should give his owners an incredible amount of fun.
Karl Philippe
The latest addition to the Provences Racing team and one we’re really excited about.
He had a high level of form in Britain for Fergal O’Brien and he looks just the type to do well in France. His half-brother won a Grade 3 in France and we’re hopeful he’ll be just as good.
He made an excellent debut for us when third in a good race at Lyon-Parilly before taking on some top opposition at Auteuil.
Once he’s handicapped, we can really kick on with him and we’re certain he be winning good races in the future in France.