Of General in Chiefcandidate on Saturday for the Grand Steeple-Chase of Compiègne, Benjamin Gelhay could talk about it for hours. “One day, someone told me, it’s a beautiful story, the meeting between a misunderstood horse and a carefree jockey. Or something like that. I don’t actually remember anymore (laughs).” A few hours before an important meeting for them, the 34-year-old jockey doesn’t worry when he answers our questions on the Lyon-Parilly road: “I didn’t even look at who was racing against us. I’m going to go, no matter what. As I was in Auteuil on Wednesday, I stopped by on Wednesday morning. He was equal to himself. A little angry. As it should be. Anyway, the day he doesn’t shoot in the morning, you can stop running. Even if he is calmer than before, he remains on the flex (sic!).” Former resident of David Cottin, General in Chief (three participations in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris) passed, after average performances during the winter of 2023-2024 in the boxes of Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm in Chantilly.
“General in Chief is c… before departure, it’s the hardest part with him”
It was there, in February 2024, that the first meeting took place: “Since I wasn’t participating in the meeting, I was bored. So I spent a week with François Nicolle in Royan and another week in Chantilly with Noel George. I wanted to see how the machines are trained and see how the mammoth stables work. One morning, Noel makes me jump General in Chief and it stops there. I return home to Ain.” A fortnight later, the son of Martaline then runs to Auteuil. Seventh. “He didn’t want it anymore but since he was working well and had no health problems, his coaches didn’t want to put him on rest.explains Benjamin Gelhay before continuing. They find a commitment in Lignières. That day, there was a meeting in Auteuil and more people were fighting to get it. I was available and I had assembled it. Noel then said to me: “Go ahead and get the class talking because it’s not easy.” I said to myself, no, we’ll wait. In the provinces, I had to ride some worse ones. In the end he gave me carte blanche. I’m not the best at feeling things but this time I was right. We win the race.” Behind, the duo returned to Auteuil and triumphed in the Prix Saumur then refused to start in the Prix Ingré: “He’s c… with the departure. In fact, it’s the hardest part with him. Afterwards, everything works.” A few weeks later, General in Chief sets off and finishes third in the Grand Steeple-Chase of Paris: “It was probably too fresh because we hadn’t been able to run three weeks before. I don’t know if we would have won but…”
“I am confident for Saturday”
This fall, exit Auteuil towards Compiègne. “He had already raced here at 4 years old I think but it’s good to give him a change of environment. The preparatory was really good. I’m confident for Saturday.” At 34, Benjamin Gelhay savors these moments: “For a provincial jockey, to reach three champions in his career (editor’s note: Wild driver et Izzo) it’s already good. I don’t have any big career goals anyway. I need 12 winners per year to make a living. One per month (laughs).” When it is pointed out to him that he does not set the bar very high, he quickly responds: “You’re right (laughs). I love what I do. I am serene and I am comfortable in the provinces. I hope I’ve told you enough. It’s crazy not to remember this sentence. It’s the meeting… I don’t know anymore.” On Saturday, he will have time to think about it on the road that will take him to Compiègne.
