Yan Durepaire
Born in Chantilly in July 1973, Yan Durepaire's racing cv reads like the honours list at the Oscars. It is very rare for someone relatively so young to have gained so much experience in the heart of the world's top racing establishments. His exposure to the world's top trainers, racehorses, race tracks, studs and training methods is unrivalled and lucky are the owners who entrust their horses with him.
In mid 2005, Yan spotted an opportunity to branch out on his own with the re-opening of Spain's premier racetrack, the Hipodromo de La Zarzuela, in Madrid. His commitment to the move is evident by the fact that his wife and 2 young kids have settled in Madrid with him. Being fluent in French, Spanish and English also helps and rare is a conversation where the very bright and affable Yan doesn't speak to you in all 3 in the space of a minute !
His father was head lad to the almighty Francois Boutin for 32 years. In that time and up to his late teens, Yan was exposed to and witnessed, on a daily basis, the cream of some of the top French racehorses. Yan saw these "cracks" progress under the tutelage and training methods of the great Boutin. Horses that just by themselves would fit in anyone's top 10 best racehorses.....Arazi, Miesque, Hector Protector, Northern Trick, East of the Moon, Priolo, Kingmambo, Coup de Genie, Hernando, Machiavellian, Exit to Nowhere, Lacovia, Madeleine's Dream, Blushing John and Johan Quatz.
Whilst still at school, Yan gained invaluable experience in the summer holidays working for Boutin, Jean-Claude Rouget and at the Niarchos family stud, Haras de Fresnay le Buffard. Having graduated in Accounting and Commerce he joined Nicolas Clement as pupil assistant in Chantilly between 1991-1992. Whilst there he struck a very close relationship with his favourite jockey, Olivier Peslier and the two remain very good family freinds.
He then decided to widen his up-to-now French racing experience by working as the Barn Foreman in 1992/93 for Taylor Made Farms in Kentucky. Here he was responsible for 25 mares in foal, working and representing the farm at the Keeneland sales along with breaking and exercising yearlings using the Monty Roberts techniques.
In 1993, he moved back to Europe and spent 2 years as pupil assistant to Luca Cumani in Newmarket. Here he worked with great horses such as Breeders' Cup mile winner, Barathea along with Only Royale, Mons, Poteen and Smart Alec. He helped with after-training and racing treatments, assisted the travelling head lad at the races, engaged with Cumani's owners and exercised the horses.
At the end of 1995, he spent 6 months in Dubai breaking horses for Ewan Charpy before spending 4 months at Teruya Yoshida's Shadai Farm in Sapporo, Japan.
In 1997 he moved back to Chantilly and spent 2 1/2 years as pupil assistant to the former French champion jockey, Freddy Head. Here he worked with a horse he absolutely adored and devoted lots of attention to, triple Group 1 winner Kutub, breaking the colt in and exercising him before the horse joined Godolphin.
In 1999, he decided to move west again and settled in Santa Anita, California working as pupil assistant to Richard Mandella. Here he was in charge of all training and after-training treatments, he managed employees and followed up on the veterinary treatments. Along with execising the horses, he also travelled with out-of-state runners to race meets across the US. Horses that he worked with and exercised included three that were to later win and place in the Dubai World Cup: ...Pleasantly Perfect (1st), Malek (2nd & 3rd) and Puerto Madero (4th).
In 2001, after two years with Mandella he moved barns to spend another two as assistant trainer to Patrick Biancone, where he was responsible for all duties surrounding the care of 20 horses, including Mayakovsky, Zavata and WhyWhyWhy.
In 2003 he moved across Los Angeles to Hollywood Park to be assistant trainer to Kristin Mulhall where he was in charge of 25 horses, amongst which were Imperialism.