Surfing the wave of success since the start of the year and, just 37, Marseille trainer Jérôme Reynier tops the French trainers’ table with [at the time of writing] 41 wins and earnings in excess of €1.2m. 

His 18 victories during the Cagnes-sur-Mer winter meeting set a new standard, and he has since produced some notable wins in the capital. Fun With Flags won the Listed Prix Rose de Mai at Saint-Cloud, followed by Zarakem’s convincing Prix d’Harcourt success last weekend. And, just last Tuesday, Lazzat made short work of the Gr.3 Prix Djebel, a race whose 1988 winner, Shaindy, was bred by Jérôme’s father, Serge.

Serge also introduced his son to the world of racing, inspiring the young 14yo to start working at the local studs, followed by a period in Ireland and the UK once he had his school exams under his belt. He spent two years on the Godolphin Flying Start programme after which he tried his hand as a bloodstock agent, but without much success. So, he would turn to training instead.

In 2010, well-known Marseille owner, Patrice Camacho, offers Reynier the chance to become his private trainer. At the age of just 24, he finds himself running a yard with just shy of 20 horses. Three years later, he rents his first boxes at the training centre of Calas/Cabriès, beginning his new life as public trainer. Five years in, prominent owner Jean-Claude Seroul moves his horses from Patrick Khozian to a now-32yo Reynier who has 4 boxes occupied one day and 90 the next.

After Facteur Cheval’s remarkable Dubai Turf victory, Skalleti, who gave Reynier his first Gr.1 success, will be making his much-awaited return in Sunday’s Listed Prix Jacques Laffitte.