From the fulsome fields of Normandy in France to the green grass of the NSW Southern Highlands, Frenchman Jean Dubois is carving out a magical dream in horse racing.
Having taken over management of Woodpark Stud near Mittagong, the Goulburn-based trainer has a real live hope in the $3.5 million Longines Golden Slipper with his lightly-raced colt Aylmerton.
Dubois, a former leading harness driver in France, has only been in Australia three years and took on Woodland Park from his French friend and former trainer Louis Baudron.
The colt Dubois bred, Aylmerton, a 16-1 chance in the Slipper, is French himself, having been conceived in France from European sire Siyouni, and brought over in utero with his mum Aloona. It’s a very unlikely breeding tale for the Golden Slipper, with most runners dominated from the Australian Star Kingdom line of horses bred for speed. The Europeans normally take out the staying honours with their breeding dominating the Melbourne Cup runners and winners for the last 10 years, but Dubois has the chance to make a claim for a European speed sire.
And some of the knowledgeable people in the thoroughbred industry believe Aylmerton has the pedigree to win the richest two-year-old race in the world at Rosehill on Saturday. It was no accident the powerful Coolmore operation bought a share in Aylmerton just a week ago. If Aylmerton wins or runs well in the Slipper a future stud career will be assured.
Everyone is amazed at Dubois’ quick rise from his small base of horses on the Southern Highlands. Aylmerton was named after the road that runs by his mare-only stud. He says every foal from his mum Aloona gets a name starting with A. “So we just chose the road,” he says. Dubois is a humble but successful Frenchman and seeing his colt progress has filled his heart with high hopes.
Woodpark, he says, typically reflects the rolling hills where he trained in north-west France just a short time ago.
“It is good for horses running up and down the hills it helps build their bone and muscle,” he says. Aylmerton galloped at Goulburn racecourse on Tuesday and according to Dubois it was a strong gallop. “He looks super, he will only be fitter for the Slipper.”
Aylmerton has raced twice for two wins, the latest one winning the Group 3 Todman Stakes at Randwick sent out a $17 chance. Dubois believes he can defy the odds again for the Slipper, but luck as always will play its part.
“It is a fairytale, but as in all horseracing it is all about luck. If you do the maths the chances of getting a runner in the Slipper from 2500 nominations is very small.”
After Aylmerton’s Todman win, leading jockey and two-time Slipper winner Tommy Berry was eagerly on the phone from his base in Hong Kong seeking the ride in Aylmerton.
Drawing barrier 8 for the big race has only boosted hopes.
Leading racehorse breeder and owner John Muir, who runs nearby Millburn Stud at Wilde’s Meadow, says Dubois is a consummate horsemen.
Muir gave Dubois a reference as he looked to obtain an Australian training licence.
“He is a very nice man. He was an outstanding harness trainer in France. He’s just a very good horseman.”
Muir looked into Aylmerton’s pedigree and found it goes back to some of the best breeding of the Aga Khan. He believes Aylmerton is a real live chance in the Slipper despite the odds. “The fact Coolmore has invested in the colt is a sign there is a lot of confidence,” he said.
Muir agreed the rolling hills of the Southern highlands helped mature young horses.
It would be timely if Dubois can win the Slipper, with the French-Swiss company Longines the main sponsor. A match or watch made in heaven!
John Ellicott
journalist and author
journalist and author
