Yorkshire roots deliver French success

THE history books will show that the unconsidered Makfi was the first French-trained winner of the 2000 Guineas for 15 years – and a first Classic victory for the eloquent Mikel Delzangles.

Yet it is a tribute to the winning trainer's modesty, in his hour of glory, that he named the Yorkshire training legend Jimmy Fitzgerald as one of the greatest influences on his burgeoning career.

Delzangles spent a formative year at Fitzgerald's Norton Grange Stables near Malton in his late teens where he was pupil-assistant to the trainer. It was arranged through Delzangles's godmother, the Marquesa de Moratalla, who was mischievously described by one national newspaper after Makfi's shock Guineas triumph as one of "Fitzgerald's better-bred owners".

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"I love Yorkshire – and I shall never forget spending the 1989-season with Mr Fitzgerald," said Delzangles. "There was a great team. Mr Fitzgerald's son, Tim, who still trains. Mark Dwyer, a top jockey, and a young Kieren Fallon.

"My godmother thought I would learn a lot – and sent me as pupil-assistant. I was 18. Everything was new – the weather, the language – I had only just left school.

"But I have such happy memories from my journey of discovery, given that I didn't know anything about the job other than I might, one day, want to be a trainer.

"The most important thing that I learned was how to watch horses, how they are trained and how they look; whether they are athletic animals or not. I didn't mind the cold. I pretty well did everything. But the important thing is that I spent time with horses."

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Fitzgerald's tutelage obviously paid off. Compared to the equine superstars who have won the Stan James 2000 Guineas – last year's hero was the incomparable Sea The Stars – Makfi, a 33-1 shock winner, was a bargain buy.

"He is a very quiet and well-behaved horse and he can quicken," said Delzangles who has an 80-strong string near Chantilly racecourse. "He is very easy – you just need to be on him and he does the rest."

Rejected by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell operation, Makfi proved to be a bargain buy, at 33,000 guineas, for Delzangles, who liked what he saw at the sales with that knowing eye honed to precision in North Yorkshire.

"I hoped he would run very well as he was in great form and won his trial. To me, he did not deserve to be a 33-1 outsider. Perhaps it was because he was trained in France.

"There was no reason why he wouldn't do well."

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Makfi is not entered in next month's Epsom Derby, the target of the well-beaten Guineas favourite St Nicholas Abbey, the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt who had shot to prominence after winning Doncaster's Racing Post Trophy so emphatically last October. Instead, the prestigious St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot – the blue riband race for one-mile champions – is a more immediate proposition.

And, while Delzangles has no plans to run Makfi at York later this summer, Knavesmire still holds a special place in his affection.

For it was the venue, five years ago, of his first British winner when Chineur landed the King's Stand Stakes at the relocated Royal Ascot meeting.

Those who were certain about Delzangle's qualities included Mark Dwyer, the former Gold Cup-winning rider.

"The biggest compliment I would make is that he was very conscientous," said Dwyer.

"It can only be time before he wins some even bigger races."

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