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| Staff Writer |
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Carlos Laffon-Parias strikes a dominant figure as he watches his horses train and compete.
He is the model of consistency and has a reliable reputation, which have helped guide him to success that most trainers can only dream of.
A Spanish Man’s Dream Realised
With 14 Group Ones, the leading trainer with over three decades of experience is the first Spanish trainer to capture an Arc.
"Winning the Arc de Triomphe with Solémia in 2012 was such a joy! I would say it is the highlight of my career," Laffon-Parias said.
His career did not come overnight; it was built on hard work and giving the horses time to show their ability while nurturing that talent.
In his first year of training in 1993, he was training Wessam Prince, a colt owned by Maktoum Al Maktoum and over the following two years, he had won more than 30 races.
Home Is Where The Horses Are
It was a hunger and desire sparked by a family passion for horses and riding that has endured forty years after being introduced to the industry.
"I was born in Madrid, Spain, and my whole family was involved with horses.
"My grandfather, uncle, and brother ride as amateur riders in Spain, and when I had the chance to go racing when I was a child, I loved it!
"So, I started riding as an amateur rider in Spain and did the Fegentry for some years - I won 120 races in the flat as well as jump races and that gave me the opportunity to travel around the world.
"I decided that training was what I liked the most, so I went to France and worked with Christiane Head for a few years as her assistant and started training in 1992."
This was the beginning of a career that has seen him prepare some great horses, compete in some of the world's greatest races and take the greatest prizes in the sport of kings.
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A Hard Task Master?
"I think we could say I have a classical way of training. I am not very hard on the horses; I will give them the time they show me when they are ready to race.
"Most of my owners are breeders, so I try to find races for the fillies that will improve their pedigrees. It is important to have a good team to work with."
These breeders have included Maktoum Al Maktoum, the Wertheimer brothers, the Hinjosa family, and the Marinopoulos family – all owners that he has been proud to train for.
"Over the years, I had the chance to have very good people working with me. For me, it is a question of trust between the trainer and the owner; we have to work in the same direction."
Laffon-Parias has said before that his respect for the Wertheimer brothers is great. They have over thirty horses in their stable, including the Arc winner Solemia, demonstrating their faith in him.
"I work with them in complete confidence, and there has never been a problem between us," he told the media in 2019.
"We discuss all plans in detail, but they have never forced me to run in a race against my wishes. I have no say in which of their horses come into my stable, but I am very happy to have those that they allocate to me."
Training The Wertheimer Horses
In years gone by, his stable has had multiple Group One performers, including the Wertheimer-owned 3YO colt Shaman and the 4YO gelding Ziyad.
Other top-tier horses under his training have included Solemia, Left Hand, Silasol, Keltos, and Falco to name a few.
International Journey For Riocorvo
His stable has some names that get him excited for the coming seasons, but he was impressed with the run in the Bahrain International Trophy from his Pastorious-Rio Cobra 6YO Riocorvo.
After the frontrunner, Magny Cours, who finished third last year, faded to fourth, Riocorvo tacked on to the wave of Godolphin Blue and finished third by 34 lengths.
"I was very happy with the horse’s performance in the Bahrain International Trophy.
"I told Olivier (Peslier) to ride him covered and to wait because the straight is very long and he would have time to come as he is a good finisher. Riocorvo likes fast ground; his better races are on fast ground.
The horse finished third, trailing Godolphin's Dubai Future and Passion and Glory.From here, his plans are set as he returns home.
"He will be going back to France. The next target would be to get invited to South Arabia or to Dubai."
"He is an easy horse to train he is 6 years old, so he knows his work there was not very hard as the job had been done at home, he just needed to maintain his form and he travels very well this is very important when you race in the races."
Riocorvo Making Strides In Class
In July, he won a Group 3 in the Grand Prix de Vichy, following a Class 1 at Longchamps in May.
"As you can imagine, I was very pleased as he keeps improving over there and the ground was also fast as it was very hot," Laffon-Parias said about Group 1.
Having trained winners around the globe, he admits that international horse travel is necessary for his stable to continue to achieve.
"I like to be able to race abroad. I find it very interesting as we can compete with horses from all over the world."
"I have had the chance to have a lot of good horses in my career and being able to win Group races around the world in France, England, America, Singapore, Italy, and Germany.
The World Is My Oyster
"At the end of the season in Europe the groups are pretty soft and that does not suit all the horses so once the season is nearly finished in Europe, we can still have very interesting races around the world."
He also said that the newest races in the GCC, like the Saudi Derby, The Saudi Cup, and The Bahrain International Trophy only added a whole new level of competition and opportunities to succeed.
"As I told you before, I think those races open programmes for some horses of good quality.
"I must say that when we travel, everything is well organised for the horses as well as for the lads, the jockeys, trainers, and owners. It gives us the opportunity to discover new countries."
The year ahead is showing promise for his stable, with a few gems ready to shine.
"I have a few for next year that will be interesting. I hope horses like Tumbler and Vagalame will show they are nice four-year-olds. years old - hoping to travel with them!
"In the 3YOs, I have a horse called Barbate who has not yet run along with fillies like Kelina, Left Sea, Jannah Rose, and Saadiyat."
The trainer admits that he will not always be in the role and that there will come a time when he will hang it up.
"It takes early mornings and a lot of hard work – there will be a day this all ends."