Like a migratory bird, Marine Henry has flown to a milder climate every winter since 2003 (2017 with Nicolas Caullery). Companion and right arm of Nicolas Caullery, she took with her five of their residents and her training rider, Andrea Thierry. When we ask Marine Henry the differences between France and Dubai, the list is long: “So already, the quality of work, the infrastructure, the climate, the time we have for each horse since we have fewer residents here, especially since we are lucky to have grooms who allow us to focus on our work. They help us enormously. I consider them part of my team. Every year, it’s the same bellhop who works with me.” When a trainer reserves boxes at the International Barn in Meydan, one or more grooms, working for the Dubai Racing Club, are allocated to him. “Everything is square and everything runs, they are super professional.”
Having been coming since 2003, Marine Henry describes the evolution of the infrastructure: “Before, it was a small, fairly family racecourse, very nice too, then they transformed it into Meydan, where it almost became an airport terminal with a hotel next to it. But there have been no big changes since 2017, apart from the renovation of the buildings.”
She notices certain differences in daily life: “The very regulated track times that we don’t have at Chantilly and the fact of starting earlier (5 a.m. on horseback). Otherwise, the supervision is really great. If we have a problem, there are people to catch up with the horse on the slopes. Certainly, these are not the slopes of Chantilly with its large bridle paths and its forest, but the slopes (de Square) are very well maintained. Likewise, in terms of veterinary logistics, they are present 7 days a week, no waiting, etc..”
Regarding the Dubai climate, Marine Henry sees only positives: “Everyone thinks we’re cooking in the heat in Dubai, but we’re not. I find the climate really pleasant. It starts to get very hot in mid-April, so throughout the meeting, it’s perfect. All my horses acclimatize much better to Dubai coming from France than the opposite. I have people who get depressed more often when they come home than when they arrive.. My gray, Batwanarrived here as at home. Out of my five horses, I don’t have one that doesn’t want to be there.”
-“When I arrive in Dubai, I feel at home here. I have a real social life. My second home is here”, concludes Marine Henry.
Odds for Fort Payne and King Gold this Friday
Marine Henry gives us the latest news from her two protégés engaged on Friday. Concerning Fort Paynewho will run the Al Fahidi Fort (Gr. II): “We had fallen a little behind on his training. He looks pretty good, but I hope he doesn’t need a little work for his return..” King Goldfor his part, is entered at the start of the Firebreak Stakes (Gr. III): “Il isn’t bad either. He’s coming back on dirt, so it’s a little question mark, but in the morning, on this surface, he’s quite pleasant, so I think there’s a way to have fun.” For the other three horses part of the trip, Batwan, Mistysea et Russipant Fal : “All are in good conditions. The filly (Mistysea) discovers the place but in the morning, she is really pleasant to watch (fifth on January 17 for her first attempt at Meydan, editor’s note). Russipant Falon his second race, I really thought I could take a check. And Batwanwe know him by heart, he’s an “old geezer” (laughs). Everything really has to suit him for Monsieur to deploy, but he has become 5 years younger since we arrived. I think he looks good in his sneakers.”
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