Etienne & Grégoire Leenders Race-horse trainers

…for the punters. 

 At Auteuil on June 23^rd, GIRL OF THE WORLD and FAN OF SEA didn’t perform according to their ratings when not being in the first five.   

  FAN OF SEA ridden by Ludovic Philipperon started at the back of the field and was not too keen to be in the race. When he rejoined the field, it was too late… you have to know that on firm ground, it is really difficult to come back to the leaders.  

  GIRL OF THE WORLD ridden by Clément Lefebvre took the lead but was hampered by a loose horse all around and never dropped the bit… therefore she got short of breath and could not finish… As Clément told us, “I never rode such a bad race!!!” Not wrong!!!

BALKANIE discovered Auteuil on June 23^rd in a hurdle race for 3 year-old fillies over 3500m (2m1 1/2f), Prix du Bois Rouaud. She finished 2^nd. Ridden by Ludovic Philipperon, she stayed in the middle of the field, when coming to the last bend, there was some interference, but she managed to get out of it as she was on the outside. 

 Then, she performed a nice finishing straight and missed the first place by little.  

 Qualities of this filly: very energetic, gifted over jumps and very cool!   

 She is by Balko, was bred by SCEA des Prairies and belongs to Ecurie JAB and Castillon Bloodstock. 

   BALKANIE will improve for this race and she showed us that we can have ambitions with her!

This beautiful GASTI GRETI did start getting on our nerves… because his previous races didn’t show his quality.  

  We found an easy entry to give him confidence at Argentan on June 21^st. Ridden by Lucas Zuliani, he was always 2^nd or 3^rd during the race…he didn’t find it difficult because he is a remarkable jumper… but he asked for a breath before the last hurdle…he finished good 3^rd. 

At last!! We’ll go on looking for easy races for him.

At Argentan on June 21^st, our SQUARE THIERS ran well and finished 2^nd ridden by Coralie Pacaut. 

 He was a bit keen all around, entered the finishing straight in 5^th/6^th position but proved to be very courageous to finish and only missed the win by little.  

  You see SQUARE THIERS, when you want it, you can do it!!

At Sables d’Olonne on June 20^th, GREAT WEDDING did her hurdling debut in a race for 4 and 5 year-old fillies and mares. 

 Ridden by Ludovic Philipperon, she started nice and quiet at the back of the field and performed a superb, easy and professional race…not a mistake…the race started to spread out in the far straight.

  At the end of the bend, she was still in 4^th position, but GREAT changed gear and performed a nice finishing straight to get the second place. 

   I like this filly… because she is discreet and does all what you ask her to do.

…ZANZETI, he finished 4^th in a handicap over 2900m (1m6½f)., in Angers . 

Ridden by Axelle Nicco, he pulled a bit too much at the beginning of the race, of course the rhythm of a race over 2900m (1m6 1/2f) is not the same as the rhythm of a mile and a half race.

On top of that, Axelle lost her stick at the end of the bend and she was not able to urge on her horse as she wanted.

  He'll win soon!!

…on soft ground…  

 …Our FARAFRA ran well at Angers on June 17^th in Prix Bango, a GR III  for 4 and 5 year-old AQPS (non-thoroughbred) horses over 2900m (1m6 1/2f).

  Ridden by Théo Bachelot, she moved well and finished 3^rd. All around she was nice and quiet among the leading horses… seemed to cede (or give way?) at mid straight but started again with courage.      

   We just regret one thing, normally this Prix Bango is run at Saint-Cloud… and FARAFRA would have been more at ease on that racecourse…  

    But nevertheless in the present circumstances we are happy to run and the racecourse is of less importance.

DEBUT DE PRINTEMPS finished 4^th in the Grand cross-country race Anjou Loir Challenge at Lion d’Angers on June 15^th. 

Ridden by Marc Antoine Dragon who discovered him, he performed a very nice, smooth race with a lot of energy. He asked for a good breathe in the far straight and finished with a lot of courage.  

 Because of the lockdown, we know that horses worked well but they were not able to have a prep race. Of course, it is the same for everyone but DEBUT DE PRINTEMPS is very tall and needs a lot of preparation and the morning work was not enough for him. 

He is only 7, which is not old for a high level cross-country horse.     

Therefore the objective for him will be Anjou Loir 2021.

…for GERPONVILLE who is at the beginning of his career over jumps. 

 Ridden by Hugo Lucas, she finished 3^rd over hurdles at Angers on June 15^th. 

  It was a pity she made a mistake at the last hurdle which cost her the second place… but the filly is improving and she will soon open her account.  

  She belongs to Madame Deregnaucourt, is by Rajsaman out of Sainte Adresse, and was bred by Franklin Finance SA.

… for EMIRA DU GOUET at Lion d’Angers on June 15^th in a cross-country race.

During the Pau meeting, she showed us she was a good jumper, keen and able to finish well. But yesterday, from the start she was not in the race, made mistakes and was not courageous… and as Jordan Duchêne said “she never took part in the race!”  

 A race horse doesn’t talk and we’ll have to try and understand the reason for this bad race!!