Apple's Jade - The Early Years

With nine Grade 1 hurdle victories to her name by the time she turned seven years of age, you might think you know everything there is to know about Gigginstown’s star mare Apple’s Jade.

There is however one man who knew her long before she ever encountered owner Michael O’Leary, current trainer Gordon Elliott or regular pilot Jack Kennedy. David Lumet is an unfamiliar name in Irish or British National Hunt racing circles but the pre-trainer is a force to be reckoned with over jumps in France and is responsible for breaking in around 250 horses each year.

Lumet has been a friend of French breeder Pierre Coveliers and his son Ronny for over 30 years and in that time has been responsible for foaling three generations of their “Apple’s” family. Little did he know as he watched one of that family, Apple’s For Ever, produce a filly foal by Saddler Maker in April 2012, that the foal would go on to be the most talented mare of her generation over hurdles.

There were however a few clues from an early age - “From birth Apple’s Jade always had a phenomenal amount of energy” explained Lumet.

“She never stood still and was always bouncing around the place even as a small foal. Her entire family have been like that, especially the fillies. I have had three generations of her family before her, so I know them pretty well!

"In fact, her grandmother Apple’s Girl only passed away two months ago at 29 years of age. Apple’s Jade was remarkably healthy when she was young as she never had a single problem from birth, not even the occasional snotty nose that you would expect from a young horse.”

“It was very hard to tell if she was actually any good when we started breaking her in as she spent all her time jumping all over the place. She was like an unruly teenager and the biggest challenge was to get her to just go in a straight line, she had so much energy.

"I will never forget the first time she did a proper canter, she came back afterwards and she was barely out of breath, which is unheard of in that young a horse, then she promptly leapt in the air and almost unseated her rider! I think I knew at that moment that she was something special.

"I had her from birth until she went into training with Emmanuel Clayeux as a three-year-old and in all that time I never managed to properly tire her out through work. She had the engine of a champion. The only time I ever saw her race was when she won first time out at Vichy. She was sold to Ireland after that and I have never seen her in the flesh since, though I follow her career closely of course. I am so busy at home that it is hard to get away, but it would be nice to be there and see her win a big race someday.”

The Coveliers, who bred Apple’s Jade, are no longer active breeders so her dam Apple’s For Ever, who also produced dual Grade 2 winning hurdler Apple’s Shakira, has now passed into the ownership of David Lumet in partnership with Thierry Cypres. Lumet added “It is actually my wife Catherine who is responsible for the breeding side of things. She is a qualified vet and she is up at 5am before she goes to work looking after our band of 20 broodmares and still out in the yard after work until 11pm every day. She is an amazing woman and I couldn’t do any of this without her.”

Lumet clearly does appreciate his wife as when I first called him to talk about Apple’s Jade, he was in the process of buying her flowers and asked could he call me back in ten minutes - definitely a first for me as a racing journalist!

David and Catherine Lumet are obviously delighted to take on the mantle of this prestigious French bloodline in the hope there might be another Apple’s Jade in the future. “Her dam Apple’s For Ever is currently in foal to Pastorius and has a three-year-old full brother to Apple’s Jade, Apple’s Du Pont, and a two-year-old half-brother by Martaline named Apple’s Pierro” explained Lumet.

“We also still have a full sister to Apple’s Jade to breed from. Her name is Madame Apple’s and her first foal last year, a filly by Crossharbour, was a carbon copy of Apple’s Jade physically. We have named her Mademoiselle Apple’s and it would be amazing if she had her talent too.”

With such promise to come from the next generation of this champion mare’s family, David Lumet must be hoping that the old saying will ring true and the “Apple’s” never fall far from the tree.

By Sally Ann Grassick