Iradie: The Mare Making Belgian Turf Dream with Gaelle Gernay

The trainer will saddle the French-bred mare in the Saudi International Handicap, carrying the hopes of a nation outside the world’s racing elite

Iradie was born and primarily competes in France, but will represent Belgium in Riyadh / GAELLE GERNAY

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Special for Turf Diario).— Amidst the high-profile names and the usual powerhouses of international racing, Belgium will have a presence as unprecedented as it is inspiring this Friday in the Saudi International Handicap. Gaelle Gernay will send out the French-bred Iradie in the $500,000 event, sponsored by LUCID, at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

The 5-year-old mare, a daughter of Sommerabend, arrives with a low profile but intriguing credentials. With the bulk of her career developed in France—where she won two races last summer over nine and ten furlongs—the stretch-out to 2,100 meters appears to be in her favor. Furthermore, Iradie will become the first Belgian representative to take part in this demanding contest.

The road to Riyadh began in mid-November when Jerry McGrath and Toby Jones acquired her for €23,000 at the Arqana sales before moving her to Belgium. Her most recent outing was a third-place finish at Mons on December 4, which served as the final step to meet the qualification requirements.

“We are very excited. We are a small stable in Belgium, and coming to Saudi Arabia during the Saudi Cup weekend is a huge story for us,” explained a visibly moved Gernay. “Last year, the owner, Mr. Jones, called me and said he wanted to buy a horse for this race. We started looking and he finally found her at the sale.”

The trainer noted that Iradie had a prep run in Belgium over 1,500 meters, a distance clearly shorter than her ideal trip. “She ran very well, losing only by a nose. That’s when we started thinking seriously about this race,” she recalled.

Gaelle Gernay’s story has a special charm. A former jockey with experience in female rider competitions, she now combines her passion for turf with a lifestyle uncommon in the racing world. “I currently only train five horses. I used to do a lot of pre-training, but it’s not easy in Belgium, and I also have another job,” she explained. “My partner, William, takes care of the horses at home, and I work with police horses in the Royal Cavalry. Fortunately, I have good hours and can train in the mornings.”

In a country where racing takes place at very few tracks and where figures like Christophe Soumillon are the primary national ambassadors for the sport, Iradie’s presence in Riyadh holds symbolic value.

“We haven’t had her for long, but she has already changed so much,” Gernay stated. “She had her final piece of work last week and we were very, very pleased. Now we just hope everything goes well.”

Without the media buzz surrounding other names, Iradie and Gaelle Gernay represent one of those stories that international turf still manages to offer: a small operation daring to dream on the world’s biggest stage, with hopes intact and nothing to lose.