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| Staff Writer |
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In a seismic shift for French racing, veteran maestro Jean-Claude Rouget and rising star Jerome Reynier are set to join forces, creating a formidable 'superstable' that spans the length of France.
The unlikely alliance, announced yesterday, will see the two trainers operate under a joint licence from 1 January 2025, melding Rouget's decades of dominance with Reynier's fresh, international outlook.
At 70, Rouget stands as a colossus of European racing. With over 7,000 winners to his name and five French trainers' titles, including last year's thanks to Ace Impact's Jockey Club-Arc double, he's the undisputed king of the French turf.
Reynier, just 38, represents racing's new guard. A Darley Flying Start graduate, he's already made waves on the global stage, most recently saddling Facteur Cheval to Dubai Turf glory.
This new powerhouse will stretch from Rouget's northern stronghold in Deauville to his southern base in Pau, incorporating Reynier's Marseille operation. It's a logistical jigsaw that could reshape the French racing map.
Rouget's recent absence from the racecourse, on doctors' orders, has raised eyebrows. This merger, however, signals he's far from done. For his long-standing owners, it's a reassuring nod to the future – and possibly a glimpse of succession planning in action.
Speaking to Jour de Galop, Rouget revealed: "I've watched Jerome's work for years. Everything about it impressed me. We may not have been close, but we click. The idea hit me early this year."
Reynier, clearly energised, added: "From next January, our names will stand together on racecards. By joining forces, we'll turbocharge our opportunities. Together, we'll be unstoppable."
As French racing braces for this new super-team, one thing's certain: the 2025 season just got a whole lot more interesting.