'I've tried to train the good horses for good races' - leading French trainer Pascal Bary brings long career to a close

In a year of notable retirements, Pascal Bary has drawn to a close a 44-year training career defined as Classic in every sense.

The man who guided the careers of such luminaries as Six Perfections, Sulamani, Study Of Man and the wondrous Divine Proportions, sent out his final two runners at his home track of Chantilly on Tuesday, although neither Richard Feynman nor Amandines were able to send Bary off with a winner.

Bary began his career riding out for William Clout before learning his trade under first Sir Mark Prescott and then Francois Boutin.

He enjoyed early success when sending out Deep Roots to Group 1 glory in the Prix Morny and Prix de la Salamandre in 1982, and went on to establish a remarkable record at the highest level, both at home and abroad.

"Maybe it's better to arrive in this sport with a free spirit and I felt I had a great liberty because nothing much was expected of me," Bary told French racing channel Equidia of his early years. "If you work hard and you do what you think is right, you can make it work. It has never seemed like something very difficult to me and I never experienced periods of doubt."

Study Of Man and Stephane Pasquier land a sixth Prix du Jockey Club for Pascal BaryCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Asked about the 'Bary method', the 71-year-old said: "I've never bothered trying to get horses handicapped, I treat every one like they are a good horse and train them accordingly. Obviously there comes a point when they might not prove up to it.

"Jean-Louis Bouchard [owner] played a big role early on because he advised me not to bother with handicappers and to specialise in training good horses for the good races."

Bary is one of six trainers to share the distinction of having won the Prix du Jockey Club on six occasions – only Tom Jennings in the 19th century has more with ten – beginning in 1994 with Celtic Arms and stretching to Study Of Man in 2018.

Many of Bary's greatest champions were owned and bred by the Niarchos family, for whom he first trained horses in 1987 and with whom he has worked continuously since 1997.

Long-time Niarchos racing manager Alan Cooper paid tribute to Bary's dedication and passion for the job. "Pascal has always been great to work with, as has his team," he said. "His enthusiasm for his profession filters right through his staff and is a big contributing factor to his great success."

Pascal Bary, Maria Niarchos-Gouaze and Christophe Lemaire with star filly Divine ProportionsCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Asked to pick out his best racecourse memories involving Bary, Cooper added: "Without wanting to be greedy there have been a number of great days and it’s difficult to chose between them. Study Of Man’s Jockey Club would be one, as would all of Divine Proportions’ Group 1s, and Senga’s Prix de Diane.

"Domedriver’s Breeders’ Cup Mile is one of the most unforgettable days because the race took place while we were all stuck in the lift going up from the paddock to the stand, and we didn’t see the race live. We got to know the result by walkie-talkie while the firemen were trying to open the doors to the lift to let us out from where it had become stuck between floors.

"We were all sitting on the floor of the lift and then jumping into the arms of the fireman so we could rush down to the winner's enclosure. It was most extraordinary."

Six Perfections and Jerry Bailey win the 2003 Breeders' Cup Mile to the delight of trainer Pascal Bary Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Domedriver's unseen victory at Arlington Park in 2002 was followed by Six Perfections in the following season's Mile, while Bary opened his Breeders' Cup account in 1991 when Miss Alleged sprang a 43-1 surprise in the Turf.

He also became the first – and so far only – French trainer to win the Dubai World Cup, when the Brazilian-bred Gloria De Campeao scored on his third attempt at the race in 2010, carrying the colours of Stefan Friborg. Bary and Friborg teamed up to land both the Cheveley Park Stakes and the 1,000 Guineas with Natagora.

Cooper also recalled the French and Irish Derby double of Dream Well, who the Niarchos team owned in partnership with Bouchard.

"We went over for the Irish Derby with Dream Well full of hope, only for it to rain so much that we thought racing would be cancelled," said Cooper. "The Curragh arranged for the local fire brigade to come and pump the water off the track. We’d been quite despondent but he still won. There are a lot of wonderful memories and Pascal’s enthusiasm was only matched by his love of the horse."

Bouchard has owned horses with Bary for almost as long as he has had a licence and it was in his green silks that the trainer sent out his last Group 1 winner when Feed The Flame lifted the Grand Prix de Paris in 2023.

Jean-Louis Boucahrd (left) with Pascal Bary and Cristian Demuro after Feed The Flame's victory in the Grand Prix de ParisCredit: Scott Burton (racingpost.com/photos)

Gerard Larrieu manages Bouchard's racing interests, and also numbered Miss Alleged's owner Issam Fares among the clients he brought to Bary's door.

"We started together with Francois Boutin and we've worked together for more than 40 years, which is longer than most marriages," said Larrieu. "There has rarely been a day in that time when we haven't spoken on the phone. I never believed Pascal would retire.

"We've been very lucky to have a Group horse nearly every year and it's been a great joy. Even when I've not been directly involved in a horse, say those owned by Niarchos or Juddmonte, I've followed them with huge interest and I remember going round to see Divine Proportions at the yard when she first arrived."

Larrieu added: "He only ever cared about Group races and when it came to having a horse ready for a Group 1, they were always at 100 per cent."

PASCAL BARY CV

Full name Pascal Francois Bary

Born April 7, 1953

Pupil/assistant to Sir Mark Prescott 1975, Francois Boutin 1976-80

Stables 5 Chemin des Aigles, Chantilly

First winner Calumaque, claimer, Evry, March 26, 1980

First Group winner Deep Roots (1982 Prix Morny)

Dubai World Cup winner Gloria De Campeao (2010)

Breeders' Cup Turf winner Miss Alleged (1991)

Breeders' Cup Mile winners Domedriver (2002), Six Perfections (2003)

Prix du Jockey Club winners Celtic Arms (1994), Ragmar (1996), Dream Well (1998), Sulamani (2002), Blue Canari (2004), Study Of Man (2018)

Irish Derby winner Dream Well (1998)

1,000 Guineas winner Natagora (2008)

Prix Jacques le Marois winner Six Perfections (2003)

Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Silverwave (2016)

Grand Prix de Paris winners Zambezi Sun (2007), Feed The Flame (2023)

Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winners Bluemamba (2000), Divine Proportions (2005)

Prix de Diane winners Divine Proportions (2005), Senga (2017)

Prix Vermeille winner Sierra Madre (1994)

Prix Royal-Oak winner Ice Breeze (2017)

Prix d'Ispahan winners Highest Honor (1987), Croco Rouge (1999)

Prix de la Foret winner Field Of Hope (1999)

Singapore International Cup winner Gloria De Campeao (2009)

Cheveley Park Stakes winner Natagora (2007)

Highest-rated horses (RPRs) Miss Alleged (128 in 1991 Breeders' Cup Turf), Sulamani (126 when 2nd in 2002 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe), Domedriver (125 in 2002 Breeders' Cup Mile)

Cartier Horse of the Year Dream Well (1998)

Other Cartier Award winners Dream Well (3-Y-O colt 1998), Six Perfections (2-Y-O filly 2002), Divine Proportions (2-Y-O filly 2004, 3-Y-O filly 2005), Natagora (2-Y-O filly 2007)
Compiled by John Randall

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