Etienne & Grégoire Leenders Race-horse trainers

…of ECU DES FOSSES at Cholet on March 17^th. He finished a good 3^rd in a hurdle race for 5 year-olds and upwards over 3800m (2m3f).  

Ridden by Wilfried Lajon, he started in 4^th, 5^th position and performed a good race. ECU DES FOSSES  is actually a good jumper and can finish his races well. His future? According to the entries, he’ll run hurdle races or go chasing.  

  On Sunday, his jockey wore new colors, those of Comtesse Le Guales de Mezaubran who is now a partner in the horse.  

   A horse to follow!

After the race, a sponsor treated Grégoire with a trophy. Of course, Grégoire gave it to the present owners, Denis and Luc.

Both found it funny to try and keep it for themselves! The story doesn’t say if they fought for it!!

On March 12^th at Fontainebleau, DEAUSEILLE won as a good mare Prix de Nemours, a cross-country race for 5 year-olds and upwards over 4600m (2m7f).     

 Patiently ridden by Clément Lefebvre in the middle of the field, this good jumper performed a very nice race…she was just a little surprised by the “trou à bord franc” (a hole) which she jumped big…then she started coming on in the last 5 furlongs and accelerated quickly that she does so well.    

 There was a keen fight all along the finishing straight and our courageous DEAUSEILLE never gave ground. We were quite satisfied as this mare had little experience compared to her competitors. Her owners, members of the syndicate Le Mors Aux Dents were thrilled and in front of Equidia (TV) you could “hear” encouragements from all, from all over the country!!!

 …job !     

 On March 12^th, he ran for the second time in a maiden for 3 year-old colts over 1800m (1m1f) at Chantilly.             

  Ridden by Pierre Charles Boudot, TRUCO started behind the others and improved his position nice and quiet all the way around.   

  Slightly blocked in the straight, he managed to get room and finished a very good 

 When getting off, Pierre Charles said: ”if I had been very hard on him, I could have been 2^nd or even won” … but let’s not get ahead of ourselves…he is a good horse for the future!                                                       

… of FARAFRA at Nantes on March 6^th in Prix Souviens Toi, a race for 4 and 5 year-old AQPS (non-thoroughbred) in which she finished 2^nd.     

  Ridden by Sébastien Martino, she started at the back of the field, because this filly has a lot of energy and needs to start off the pace.

Unfortunately in the far straight, a horse came close to her and put pressure on her, she took her bit and soon found herself close to the lead earlier than planned. In the finishing straight, the winner came next to her… and beat her by a length. We are satisfied with this come back because FARAFRA was not 100% ready and this race will do her good

 Next step: in 3 weeks Prix d’Estruval, a GR III for fillies and mares only.

  BLUSHING BERE finished 5^th in Prix des Jonquilles at Nantes on March 5^th. As he couldn’t run at Chantilly on the all-weather track because Mr. BLUSHING hates that race-course, the choice of entries was reduced. Therefore we chose Nantes…unfortunately it had rained hard for 4 days… and the ground was very heavy.   

 Sébastien Martino told us that he made many mistakes, slipped…but nevertheless he ran well even if we know that he is better than what he showed and this race will put him forwards for his future entries.

At Auteuil on March 3^rd, RADIOLOGUE finished 3^rd in Prix Karcimont, the Sunday “quinté” (race in which the punters have to find the first five) ridden by Clément Lefebvre.

It was a comeback race after two months off. Therefore, the orders were to start off the pace and get closer nice and quiet in the last five furlongs. Everything went fine, but at the first fence of the far straight, a horse fell in his legs….breathing space!! Clément said: “I closed my eyes, thinking it was finished”!! But no, RADIOLOGUE managed to stay on his legs…but had to make big efforts to be back in the race. This incident cost us a better place!                                                                                                                                                    

Next step: Prix Lutteur III on March 24^th.

Our EVORA didn’t run well at Auteuil on March 3^rd. She was stopped by her jockey Clément Lefebvre.   

  But this estimated mare has excuses: there were two false starts which didn’t suit her. Actually, Clément told us: “After the first false start, she got tetanized, she trembled…and after the second false start, she was even more panicked and during the race she was not at it at all!!”

We have to see her again as she was not the mare we know!

At Argentan on March 3^rd, SELFIE finished 3^rd in a chase for 5 year-old horses. 

  Ridden by Mathieu Delage, she performed a very good first turn around, jumping well. Then another horse crossed her way in the diagonal and as a consequence, she made a mistake. Because of her inexperience, she found it hard to start again and the jockey preferred to keep her going to finish the race.

SELFIE is a mare we like, she should soon open her records in this discipline.

…on March 2^nd at Deauville finished 3^rd in Prix de Branville, a claimer over 2700m (1 mile and 5 ½ furlongs).  

 The race started very slowly, the horses were hacking around and this rhythm didn’t suit TRANCOSO who pulled for a part of the race.        

  Her amateur rider, Maëlle Le Levreur, managed to hold him but the horse got tired being on the bit.                                                                                                                                                                                               

Nevertheless when the race was launched… TRANCOSO finished perfectly at the 3^rd place, only beaten by little for the 2^nd one.

A horse to follow in his next entries.