Our French was not quite good enough to catch the rapid fire announcement over the sound system, but it was obvious that someone very important was about to arrive at the Salon de Cheval in Paris. The President perhaps? Certainly the crowd was on its feet welcoming the visitor, a slightly rickety looking old stallion, the great Jalisco B. The French breeders have passion!
Jalisco was not an immediate star. As a five year old, he finished a respectable 8th at the French championships, the following year, he was 8th in the Grand Final, and ranked fourth in prizemoney earned of his generation.
Teamed with Xavier Leredde, son of the famous breeder, Ferdinand Leredde, Jalisco won the Grand Prix of Paris in 1983, and was on the selection list for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Before he had the chance to compete at the Games, he was injured on the Spanish circuit, and sold to Portugal, and competed for that country with Manuel Malta da Costa at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
He returned to France in 1988 to a breeding career – but was limited in the number of mares he could cover as his semen was not suitable for freezing, or even chilling and transporting! He served for only three seasons before being struck down by colic at the beginning of the 1994 season. He was 19 years old.
Jalisco was bought as a two year old by Henriette Van Riemsdijk – later to become the wife of French breeding expert, Arnaud Evain. While Jalisco was in her possession, she was advised by Ferdinand Leredde only to breed her stallion to mares with performance or breeding. In 1980, international jumping star Olisco, was foaled – he went on to compete internationally with Germán Camargo; the following year, Privilége (Helmut Morbitzer) and – with M. Leredde taking his own advice – Papillon Rouge.
Leredde also bred Rochet M, a bronze medal winner with Alexandra Ledermann at Atlanta. In 1982, Jalisco sired two stallion stars – Quidam de Revel, 4th at Barcelona and currently the world's most expensive – and successful – stallion, and the 1990 World Champion, Quito de Baussy.
By 1995, Jalisco was number one on the WBFSH rankings with eight horses competing at the highest international level. At the 1996 Olympic Games, he was represented by Rochet M, Surcouf de Revel, Vert et Rouge and Revoulino.
According to Arnaud Evain: “What Jalisco brought was the scope – scope and long strides. Behind his very strong body there was a lot of blood, but you must have a lot of respect and passion with the Jaliscos because they are generally not very spectacular when they are four. When you combine the blood of Jalisco with the blood Nankin or his son, Uriel, that is often very successful. Quidam de Revel, is Jalisco / Nankin, Dollar du Murier is Jalisco / Uriel. You find that quite often.”
Jalisco has been hugely successful as a sire of sires, and his influence extends throughout Europe. He well deserved that ovation!

voltar