Etienne & Grégoire Leenders Race-horse trainers

The stand of Cholet never vibrated as much and believe me the atmosphere will stay long in the history of the race course. The owners and friends       of Ecurie Five supported their horse SINNARI all along the straight… Actually it was a first winner for Ecurie Five.

Ridden by Sébastien Martino, the horse started in 2^nd, 3^rd position, took the lead at the   end of the last bend…and when he started accelerating, it was done…SINNARI was better than the company in this handicap for 3 year-olds over 1900m (a mile and 1 ½ furlong).

We are quite satisfied as we claimed this horse at Deauville 3 weeks ago…

SINNARI is by Oasis Dream out of Siyenica and was bred by SCEA Aga Khan.

Cherry on the cake, it was also a first win of Sébastien Martino for us as he just joined our team 10 days ago.

At Longchamp on September 12^th, DUTCH DOCTOR finished 2^nd, ridden by Pierre Charles Boudot. In Prix Esplanade, a handicap for 4 year-olds and upwards over a mile and a half, he ran remarkably well. Well placed in 4^th position all around, he started going forward without any effort, and then accelerated together with the winner… it was a good fight along the finishing straight… Photograph at the post: head!!!

On September 12^th at Compiègne, TZAR’S DANCER finished 5^th in a chase, Prix des Rouges Terres over 3800m (2 miles and 3 furlongs). Ridden by Thomas Beaurain, he ran well and we can’t reproach him anything, except that this nice and good horse is getting old and has not the same finish as before.

FRANSLEEN is a good horse, he has just finished 3^rd in Prix Le Pontet: a maiden race for 3 year-olds over 2600m (a mile and 5 furlongs) at Châteaubriant, ridden by Sébastien Martino. He started in 6^th, 7^th position, came closer in the far straight but he didn’t really manage to accelerate in the finishing straight…he has not the turn of foot for that.

Therefore, FRANSLEEN will now go jumping… Considering his pedigree, we are not worried… His sire is No Risk At All and his dam Quristine (winner on the flat and over jumps) comes from the good families of the La Guillonnière breeding operation.      

…for SI SIBYLINNE on September 5^th at Longchamp ridden by Pierre Charles Boudot.       

 In Prix de la Fontaine Neuve, a handicap for 3 year-olds over 7 furlongs, she was in 6^th, 7^th position all around, found it a bit difficult to change gear, but eventually finished very well.

The first five were in a very close finish: head, short head, short head, short head… and SI SIBYLINNE was 5^th…

She pleased us very much because she was very courageous.

When winning easily Prix Richard de Gennes at Craon on September 3^rd, FAN OF SEA pleased us a lot. He won previously at Sables easily but this new win confirmed the esteem we have for him. His jockey Pierre Charles Boudot only said: “A good horse”…

His next races? The classic races for 3 year-olds.

On September 3^rd at Craon, EVORA was 3^rd in Prix Beauchêne, a race for 4 and 5 year-old AQPS (non-thoroughbred) over a mile and a half.

Ridden by Pierre Charles Boudot, she started in the middle of the field but was very uncomfortable to enter the last bend… she had to go and turn on the very outside… but thanks to the quality of the filly and the energy of the jockey, they managed to get the 3^rd place!!! We are looking forward to see her in her next races.

On September 2^nd at Craon, RADIOLOGUE finished 3^rd ridden by Stéphane Paillard. In Prix Claude Rouget, a chase over 4200m (2 miles and 5 furlongs), he did a nice performance, was serious and finished well as usual.

He will take the direction of Auteuil for his next races.

On September 1st, we organized (as we do every year) our picnic for our syndicates. For the first time we had the members of the two syndicates Le Pied A L’ Etrier and Le Mors aux Dents together, about 40 people.

Welcome coffee, visits of the tracks where they could see the horses work, then presentation of their horses…and walk in the park.

Champagne was a must to celebrate wins and places of our horses and we all met in front of the house for a picnic.

Around 3pm we left to go racing to Craon.

This year, a team of journalists of Equidia (Catherine Ford and Thibault Marlin) followed us all morning. It was a day to remember as many things were planned, but the cherry on the cake was the “unplanned”!!

At Lion d’Angers on August 30^th, FARAFRA won Prix Yann Poirier (a race for 3 year-olds AQPS, non-thoroughbred over a mile and a half) with a lot of class. Ridden by Pierre Charles Boudot, she had a good position all around and at the entrance of the straight, she accelerated and on one managed to catch her:

This very good filly is by Martaline out of Qena. We were particularly pleased with this result because it was also the win of a group of friends. She ran the Prix Yann Poirier (one of our good friends who left us 4 years ago and we wanted to win this race), she was bred by the Roulois family and she runs under the colors of Comte A. Maggiar.