Gabriel Leenders
Born in 1987, Gabriel Leenders is a "child of the ball" (literally, a french expression, ndlr).
His father, Etienne, worked as a racehorses trainer for more than 50 years, excelling at the finest French racecourses, whether on the flat or over jumps.
It could not be otherwise...
Quickly, Gabriel Leenders turned to the races' world in which he intends to evolve.
First "Gentleman-rider" (amateur jockey, ndlr), he passed his professional jockey license at the age of 20 from the height of his 1m98, making him the tallest French jockey. All this, in parallel with his agricultural studies.
Caught up by the problems that many jockeys know, namely weight, he put an end to his career as a jockey. Career during which he will record no less than 20 victories, in Paris as in the Province.
Saddle, boots and breeches in the closet, he therefore turned to the profession of trainer and went to train with the greatest trainers whom he had always contemplated with admiration. David Pipe in England, Nicolas Bertran de Balanda in Maisons-Laffitte, to finish his apprenticeship with Alain de Royer Dupré in Chantilly.
It was in April 2014 that he returned to his native land to launch his own activity as a trainer on the family estate "Les Landes", based in Jarzé, in the Pays de la Loire.
Starting with 5 horses that he rode himself, the number quickly grew as the victories followed. Until in particular this first Group 1, the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure, won in 2020 with the one who will remain his favorite horse, GARDONS LE SOURIRE, for the Haras de Saint-Voir silks.
At the head of a workforce of a hundred horses, numbers of victories and prestigious podiums, in Paris and in the Provinces, allow him to appear from his 5th year of installation, among the 5 best French national hunt trainers of obstacles.
#moreistocome
