'I was never meant to be a trainer - that's the great good fortune of my life'
France correspondent Scott Burton talks to a training legend as he bows out
One of the great careers in post-war European racing will come to an end in the next few weeks, a year later than planned but with a lifetime of success, memories and a huge international reputation thoroughly earned.
Alain de Royer-Dupre has been principal trainer to the Aga Khan for 38 years and has been responsible for a string of champions who instantly resonate with racing fans, both in the emerald green silks of the man he simply refers to as "the prince", as well as for a wider collection of mostly owner-breeders.
When Valia is loaded into the stalls at Longchamp's two-mile start on Sunday for the Prix Royal-Oak, she will become Royer-Dupre's final domestic Group 1 runner and, while in all likelihood it will be her last chance to add a top-level success to her CV, her trainer passed that particular landmark as far back as July 1983 when Masarika won the Prix Robert Papin under Yves Saint-Martin.
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Copy- 'Other trainers say how difficult it is to get staff, but I can't say the same - when people come here, they seem to stay'
- 'People love having horses with Willy rather than a miserable git like me'
- 'It's tough financially and last year I said I might get a job driving a lorry instead - although to be fair I'd probably crash!'
- 'I'm not here to tell people how to train but if you hide something from me, I'm gone, I'm done - and you won't see me again'
- 'I had to fly back from Saudi on the day for the awards before flying back the following day but it really was a great evening'
- 'Other trainers say how difficult it is to get staff, but I can't say the same - when people come here, they seem to stay'
- 'People love having horses with Willy rather than a miserable git like me'
- 'It's tough financially and last year I said I might get a job driving a lorry instead - although to be fair I'd probably crash!'
- 'I'm not here to tell people how to train but if you hide something from me, I'm gone, I'm done - and you won't see me again'
- 'I had to fly back from Saudi on the day for the awards before flying back the following day but it really was a great evening'