A Frenchman in Australia

Nicolas de Chambure

By

Sue Finley of the TDN asked me why I was going to Australia, but the question should be: why would I not go to Australia?

My first visit was about 10 years ago. I came to learn the Australian way and had the chance to spend six months at Lindsay Park with the Hayes family. I was riding out in the morning for David and helping out in the office at the stud in the afternoon with Sam and his team. I couldn't have dreamed of a better introduction to the Australian breeding and racing world. I have learned a lot from David and Sam but also from Jenny McAlpine, Mark Pilktington, Andy Mckive, Tony McEvoy and Louis Lemetayer. It was not always about horses, but always very useful. I owe them a lot for that. The great little town of Tanunda in South Australia, within a renowned wine region, was perfect to give me a sense of home with theirs great vineyards. If I didn't have Etreham, the family stud in France, to go back to, I would have stayed for a lot longer.

Since then, I have been trying to come at least once a year. Indeed, Australia is probably the most dynamic thoroughbred market in the world. A mix of great prize money, horse culture, and lack of big owner/breeders, has made this market really strong. Anyone in Australia–more than anywhere else–can dream of winning a Group 1 race. Owning a share in a racehorse is as normal in Australia as it is for a French man to have cheese at every meal in France. Therefore, the syndication system is the most evolved and connected in the world. We have in France a lot to learn in that matter.

I come to Australia to try to bring home different bloodlines and different types of horses through fillies that would race first in Australia before going stud in France or through stallions that could work for the French breeders. It's also always a great pleasure to catch up with friends and clients and the double nine-hours flight trip seems shorter every time. I will take the opportunity in this article to remind my good friend Bret Jones about traveling and that I am surprised not to see him in Sydney!

Coming to Australia also gives me a break from rainy Europe and allows me to swim in the ocean every morning with Louis Lemetayer, which Australia always keeps in very good shape! On this trip, I am joined by my friend Ghislain Bozo, a bloodstock agent in France through its agency Meridian International, making his first visit to Australia. I am sure he will love it.

Our first 48 hours in Australia have been pretty busy. We enjoyed a great day of racing at Randwick on Saturday. We got to see some of the best Australian horses. I really hope Winx can come to Europe to run in some of our good Group 1 races from 8 to 10 furlongs. It will be great for Australia and great for the sport.

Sunday was a full day of inspection in the Newmarket sales complex and I will write more about the sales in the next couple of days.

Nicolas de Chambure runs his family's Haras d'Etreham in France, and has agreed to write a blog about his travels in Australia for the TDN.

 

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