JEAN-FRANÇOIS BERNARD Passes Away

11 June 2015, France ~ Jean-François Bernard passed away on Wednesday 27th May. The La Teste-de Buch-based trainer won many of the most prestigious races for Purebred Arabians.

Numerous Group winners stand out during his career: Dahor de Brugère, Al Mamun Monlau, Josco du Cayrou, Farh, Loraa, Djet Taouy, Kiss de Ghazal, Miesque de l’Ardus, Quesche du Paon, Nashwan Al Khalidiah, Jalnar Al Khalidiah or Nayef Al Khalidiah. He had the trust of many top owners like Al Shaqab Racing, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Royal Stables of Oman, Al Khalediah Stable, and many breeders such as Renée-Laure Koch and Jean Cambon.

Jean-François Bernard notably trained Baroud d’Honneur, (English Thoroughbred), winner of the Prix Prince d’Orange (Gr3) in 1996 and the Grand Prix de Vichy (Gr3) the following year, as well as Kalistan, second in the Prix de Fontainebleau (Gr3) in 1986.

More recently he trained Bodhi to win the Prix de Guiche (Gr3) and Abu Sidra to take the Prix de Ris-Orangis (Gr3). He spent a period of time as third trainer to Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi before spending a few years as trainer to the Royal Cavalry in Oman. He returned to France around ten years ago. His wife Élisabeth Garel and Olivier Trigodet, his assistant, have been running the yard during his illness and are due to continue in the future.

Jean-Pierre de Gasté said: “Jean-François Bernard was an amazing person with a rare moral code. He did not accept mediocrity, either in his personal or professional life. He was also an exceptional trainer which he proved with his Purebred Arabians.”

Jean-Pierre Deroubaix commented: “I knew Jean-François Bernard for more than twenty years from when he was first based in France. He had a strong character and when he made a decision he followed it through right to the end.”

With thanks to Jean Pierre DEROUBAIX

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