‘Nightmare’ as legendary trainer dumped by billionaire owner sees new partnership go up in flames

2 months ago 30

A LEGENDARY trainer has seen his plans for a new partnership go up in flames because it was ‘too much of a nightmare to organise’.

Iconic French handler Jean-Claude Rouget was all set to form a new team with fellow French trainer Jerome Reynier.

two men holding a trophy in front of a sign that says qipco

Jean-Claude Rouget, right, has seen his plans for a new dual licence with Jerome Reynier abandoned because it was a ‘nightmare’ to organise[/caption]

The news came as it was revealed the Aga Khan had removed all his horses from Arc-winning trainer Rouget’s yard with immediate effect, ending a 19-year relationship.

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Rouget, who is battling lymphoma, a form of cancer, and Reynier were then set to combine their licences in a merger.

But it has been dramatically called off because discussions over how it would work have been a ‘nightmare’.

And Reynier now plans to go it alone rather than work with Rouget – who’s had more winners than any other trainer in European history.

He said: “It’s not going to go ahead, it just wasn’t viable.

“It was very hard to organise, financially and structurally, with the staff and everything else.

“We tried to put everything in place but it was too much of a nightmare to organise.

“I’m going to expand and increase the number of horses in the south of France where I am currently very happy to train and gallop.

“I will be creating a satellite yard near Paris within the next few months.

“It’s not unusual for two companies to explore a merger and finally decide against doing so.

“In fact, it happens a lot in the world of business, so I am neither sad nor disappointed.

“The idea was a good one, but if it cannot be carried out under the best circumstances for the owners, the staff and the horses, then you need to recognise that it’s best not to go ahead in everyone’s best interests.”

Rouget has been mostly absent from racecourses since mid-May after his diagnosis.

He won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last year with the awesome, unbeaten Ace Impact.

And this year he looks to have a live contender in three-year-old Coolmore-owned colt Delius, who’s 8-1 for the Paris blockbuster next weekend.