‘A Great Kick’: Nicolas Clement Heralds New Training Partnership with Frauke Hermans

[Wandering Eyes]

The arrival of March has ushered in an exciting new training partnership in Chantilly with Nicolas Clement, one of the most respected members of the French training ranks, teaming up with Dutch-born Frauke Hermans.

Widely known by the nickname Flo, Hermans, 30, has been Clement's assistant for the past five seasons, having previously worked in various English stables, including for Roger Varian in Newmarket, and also in Dubai. 

“It has always been my dream to train so Nicolas pushed me to get my trainer's licence and to get started,” she says. “And I always wanted to train in France as I think it's the best country to set up.”

Clement, one of the longest-standing trainers in Chantilly with some 37 years' experience, says, “My career started in 1998 and this is like a second wind. I always thought that when you hit 60 it's not a bad thing to have a partner for the continuity, and I have always been keen to train young people. It's quite popular now to train in partnership and it makes a lot of sense.

“I've seen the world change. I have a lot of contacts in foreign countries and I train for a lot of international owners, but I could see last year that I didn't go to Tattersalls as often as I used to, for example, and I think you've got to market yourself. We've been pretty good at sourcing talent at the sales for a reasonable budget but you've got to go there, and you also need to train your horses. We'll be training most days together but we will divide the tasks and I can escape a bit more to the sales.”

He adds, “I've got lots of projects for the new partnership, we've started data analysis – stride, heart rate analysis – but I am also an old-fashioned trainer in that I want to be with my horses in the mornings and checking their legs in the evenings. With two of us there will be a lot more time for the data analysis, placing the horses, client communication. We also like to run horses abroad – it's the best way to put your stable on the world map if you have the right horse.”

 

Clement and Hermans with Survie | Quentin Bertrand

 

One of those horses on the international wish list for this year is Survie (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), who was bred by Gerard Augustin-Normand and is raced by him in partnership with the China Horse Club. Second in last year's G1 Prix de Diane, she went on to win the G2 Prix de Malleret.

“We've kept Survie in training and we've got high goals for her. We're aiming to win a Group 1 this year, whether it is in France, Ireland, England or America, says Clement, who has long had strong international links, particularly in America, where his brother Christophe trains, his operation being split between New York and Florida.

Clement started training following the premature death of his Classic-winning father Miguel. Prior to that he had worked for John Gosden in California, Vincent O'Brien in Ireland and was assistant to another legendary trainer closer to home, Francois Boutin. It wasn't long before he put his own name rightfully alongside theirs when winning the 1990 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Grand Prix de Paris with Saumarez (GB) in his second full season with a licence and at the age of just 26. Group 1 victories have followed with the likes of Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Style Vendome (Fr), French Fifteen (Fr), Le Balafre (Fr), Vespone (Ire), Stormy River (Ire), and Wonderment (Ire). The latter's three-year-old daughter Wassail (War Front) is now in the stable and holds Classic entries for her American owner-breeder Stella Thayer, the president and owner of Tampa Bay Downs racecourse in Florida.

Clement says, “People might think Flo's a bit young but she has been with me for five or six years, she's 30 now, she's mature, she's gifted. I mean, I won an Arc at 26, so I don't think age is a problem as long as you have that feel for the horse, which I am convinced she has.

“Flo has worked long enough here. She's a great horse person. I've had a few assistants and she has as much talent as I've seen working for me.”

Hermans brings international experience of her own, from her upbringing in Holland and stints in Britain and Dubai. 

“I discovered the Thoroughbred when I was about 16 years old, back in Holland, and I absolutely fell in love. It's a love story that's going to last me a lifetime,” she says. 

“I decided to move to England to do the British Racing School course and I worked all over the place before I came to France.

“I've seen a few different countries and a few different ways of working and I chose France mainly because of the premium system and the prize-money. I come from a non-racing family so I'm truly on my own, and it's an expensive business, so before I knew that I was going to set up with Nicolas I decided that France was economically the best place to be somewhat of a successful trainer.”

 

Clement and Hermans in their racing office in Chantilly | Quentin Bertrand

 

Originally planning to set up as a sole trainer, she credits Clement for giving her the platform to take the next step in her career.

“Nicolas is already famous for helping young people and he has been a great support, a great mentor, and there is so much to learn from him,” she says. “It's been so fantastic working with him. We both kind of have the same vision in life, which helps, and so far it has been a breeze going through this partnership. I am very grateful to him for offering me this opportunity.”

For Clement, it offers the reassurance of a longer-term plan for the stable which in his father's tenure housed the 1966 Prix du Jockey Club winner Nelcius (Fr).

“I think it's a win-win situation,” he says. “Flo is coming into the company as a partner and, for me, it's about the continuity. I am in my dad's stable and I am giving myself five to ten years to train again, but now I know there can be continuity. This is a great challenge for me and it is giving me a great kick.”

 

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