Etienne & Grégoire Leenders Race-horse trainers

GRACE DE MONTOT ran a chase at Le Pin au Haras on October 18^th ridden by Marc Antoine Dragon. She finished 3^rd. We were a bit disappointed because we thought she would be able to beat the opponents. 

  Marc Antoine told us: “she was surprised by the green fences, jumped them too big and paid for it at the finish.”  

  But we are not worried because this mare is going to improve and will be more mature…

Let’s not forget that she comes from a family who ages well !

DOUX DINGUE performed well at Auteuil on October 17^th when finishing 4^th in Prix Montgomery.

Actually he was not 100% ready but we knew he would run well.

You have to understand that a “quinté” (big handicap) is never an easy race… they are races with a lot of pace and no idle periods, horses go forward all around.

After the race, Ludovic Philipperon who likes him very much told us: “he is super, he is discreet all around, jumps well, comes closer nice and quiet and is strong to finish.” 

 Reaction of his owner Paul Terpereau who was not able to go to Auteuil: “it was GIANT!!

Next objective: Prix Cacao in 3 weeks’ time.

Following a fall at Auteuil on October 11^th, GASTI GRETI went to the paradise of horses. He was badly injured and could not be saved.                                                                                                     

 He was an attractive, very elegant horse with a lot of energy. 

   We have no words because we will never accept fatal accidents… and some horses are more outstanding than others. 

GASTI GRETI was from our breeding operation and brought us so much pleasure…

Farewell from Loic and Benjamin Glemin his owners, Amélie Lardellier his morning rider, Françoise Gondouin and Christine Leeenders, his breeders, Etienne and Grégoire Leenders his trainers and all the staff of the stables.

On October 11^th at Nort sur Erdre, FATINES finished 2^nd in a chase for 4 and 5 year-old horses over 4300m (2m5½f).  

 She was supposed to be ridden by Arthur Nail but unfortunately he got injured in the previous race. 

   The lady rider Tracy Menuet accepted to ride her and managed quite well considering she didn’t know the mare. 

   Next time out she’ll win…

At Le Pin au Haras on October 11^th, FONTAINE D’ARGENT finished 5^th in a chase for 3 year-old horses over 3500m (2m1½f). 

We decided to equip her with blinkers because last time out she was a bit too cool…

And it did wake her up! Actually, she performed a nice trip ridden by Hugo Lucas. She started in second position and jumped everything well. 

 Except that she made a big mistake at the one but last fence (Hugo nearly fell off) and unfortunately she was stopped… A pity because it cost her a better place.

  Anyway this race showed us that she has improved and that it was a good idea to equip her with blinkers.

At Segré on October 5^th, FRANSLEEN finished 2^nd in a chase for 5 and 6 year-old horses over 3800m (2m3f).  

 The young jockey Arthur Nail rode him with a lot of confidence: he was well placed all around, jumped remarkably well and finished well. 

    It took a long time to have this complicated but gifted horse more professional….but now we have the feeling that he has turned professional… All for the better!  

 As he is the first foal of our mare QURISTINE, we wanted the mating to work!!

…with the comeback race of FEZ who had not run since May 2019 following health problems.

She ran at Nantes on October 2^nd in a hurdle race over 3900m (2m3½f) ridden by Valentin Morin. She finished 4^th beaten by good horses.

  Always well placed during the race, she weakened at the moment of the final effort because she was short of competition.   

  Next time out, she will not be far away…

At Cluny on October 2^nd, GIOTTO DES PLACHIS ran in a chase for the second time and finished 3^rd, ridden by Florian Besson.  

 He is not a champion but he does his job nice and quiet. And as he is a good jumper, he’ll eventually manage to win a small chase corresponding to his level.

At Meslay du Maine on September 27^th, FONTAINE D’ARGENT ridden by Hugo Lucas finished 5^th.

It was a chase for 3 year-olds over 3500m (2m1½f) for 3 year-olds. Believe it, this chase is quite difficult, you have to jump, but she coped well.

Her main quality: she jumps very well, but she lacks speed… therefore we’ll have to see if she improves in her next races.                              

  Her owner, François Audoin who is always happy to have a runner, agrees with us about this.

GRACE DE MONTOT ran a chase at Morlaix on September 27^th over 3500m (2m 1½f). She was good second.  

 Ridden by Arthur Nail, she behaved well, jumped well and finished well!! We like this kind of behavior because she is a filly of real ability and quite professional. 

   Enough of compliments, Miss de Montot, we now expect you to win!