Sir Bani Yas has given Elisabeth Bernard a good excuse to get out of bed every morning for the past four months.
In May, her husband of 31 years, the leading Purebred Arabian trainer, Jean-Francois, died after a long illness.
And all of her hard work seems to have paid off. In August, Sir Bani Yas finally shrugged off last season’s injury on his fourth attempt this campaign by carrying Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed’s colours to an emotional victory in the International Stakes at Goodwood.
The President of the UAE’s horse embarks on Leg 2 of the Doha Triple Crown at Longchamp on Sunday when the son of Amer takes his chance in the €1 million (Dh4.1m) Arabian World Cup under Jean-Bernard Eyquem.
The five-year-old grey not only bears the hopes of the Abu Dhabi royal family, therefore, but also the poignant memories of those who carry Jean-Francois Bernard’s candle at the La Teste de Buch stables near Bordeaux.
“Life without my husband is not the same and the only target that I have is success for this stable in memory of him,” Bernard told The National from her base in south-west France. “I need to work. I am not a rich woman. Winning is the best thing I can do for him and to say thank you to the sheikh for standing by me in difficult times and having confidence in me.”
Bernard and her husband worked side by side for 20 years before they moved to Abu Dhabi and Muscat for a year before moving back to France in 2005 to start up again with just one horse.
Sheikh Khalifa’s patronage came in 2010 and, since then the Bernard production line has sent a continuous stream of talent to Abu Dhabi. Horses such as last season’s President Cup winner Abu Alabyad, 2013 UAE Arabian Derby winner Skoop, and Nymphea Du Paon, who won the same race last season, all moved from Bernard’s stables to Al Asayl.
Bernard has around 60 horses, 80 per cent of which are Purebred Arabians and the rest thoroughbreds. She has 12 Purebred Arabians for Sheikh Khalifa and around five for Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed.
Horses to look out for include Sheikh Khalifa’s Deyaar, a Group 3 winner in July, Sheikh Mansour’s Naziq, a winner in Mont De Marsan this month, Princess Monlau and Cocktail De Ghazal.
For now, however, Bernard is concentrating on winning a race her husband came within touching distance on almost every occasion he had a runner.
Dahore Du Brugere was third last season behind Julian Smart’s Djaikna Des Forges, who is on course for a repeat bid on Sunday.
There was Al Mamun Monlau, who was fourth in 2012 before going on to win the following season’s Dubai Kahayla Classic at Meydan.
Jalnar Al Khalidiah was edged out by General in 2010, Nashwan Al Khalidiah was third in 2009, and Jalab Al Khalidiah was involved in a blanket photo finish to be third behind Lahib in 2008.
“We are not very lucky in this race.” Bernard said. “We have won races all over the world and have gone very close at Longchamp a few times. There are always around 20 runners so I am worried about traffic problems, but that is my only concern.
She said Sir Bani Yas “is in very good form and of all the Triple Crown races this 2,000 metres is the best for him.
“The 2,400 metres in Doha next year will be too long,” she added, “and Goodwood’s 1,600 metres was too short. We’ll see.”
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