From French Fields to Australian Turf: Pierre Boudvillain’s Golden Slipper Dream
For Pierre Boudvillain, the allure of the racetrack wasn’t an immediate calling, but rather a gentle whisper that grew into a thundering roar. His formative years in the Burgundy region of France were marked by a childhood fascination with horses, a passion ignited during his youth. While this early love affair with equines provided a grounding influence, it was eventually overshadowed by a burgeoning sense of wanderlust. Fast forward twenty-five years and half a world away, and Boudvillain, now 38, finds himself on the cusp of his most significant racing adventure.
On Saturday, at Rosehill Gardens, Boudvillain will guide Gratz Vella-trained sprinter Music Time in the prestigious $5 million Golden Slipper. This pinnacle opportunity arrives just two weeks after their triumphant victory in the Black Opal Stakes. This marked Boudvillain’s debut in a Group race, a significant milestone in his third season of riding in Australia. Based in Canberra, the jockey currently leads the NSW premiership with an impressive 99 winners, though he has yet to secure a city victory.
“It’s been a very overwhelming week,” Boudvillain shared, reflecting on his journey. His career began as a jumps jockey in France, a far cry from the metropolitan tracks he now competes on. “I never thought I would get that far. I just wanted to have a bit of fun in the country when I started racing here, and as I started to get the results, I put the goals a bit higher, but this is beyond those.” He admitted that his initial season ambition was a modest 100 wins. “A few months ago I said 100 wins for the season was my goal. If I have a couple of wins in town, that would be good … even better now if it’s a group 1.”
Boudvillain expressed his gratitude to the connections of Music Time for entrusting him with the ride in the Slipper, opting against a more high-profile jockey. He has an established rapport with the colt, having ridden Music Time in all four of its starts, three of which have resulted in wins, all at Canberra.
“He’s not an easy horse to ride, so I think that’s what made the choice as well,” Boudvillain explained. “You’ve kind of got to know him. You can feel like you are going too fast, but that’s just not fast enough for him.”
Initially, trainer Gratz Vella had considered ruling out a Slipper campaign, citing the considerable $150,000 late entry fee. However, Boudvillain felt confident that Music Time had earned its chance.
“I thought if we win the Black Opal, we will be lucky and that’s going to be it,” Boudvillain confessed.
“I was never thinking of anything after, but the fashion that he did it, he deserves to go to a better level. Anything from there is a bonus. It’s going to be such a thrill for a country team to go up there and do our best. Whatever happens, we will be happy with the horse and it will be such a journey no matter what.”
Music Time, a $45,000 yearling purchase, was initially a $34 TAB outsider in the richest juvenile race on the Australian calendar. However, drawing barrier eight (which will become gate six after emergencies are scratched) has provided a more favourable outlook.
“Having a lot of gate speed definitely helps in those sharp races, especially 1200 at that racecourse,” Boudvillain noted. “If we can jump clean from a soft draw and be in a forward position, we are going to be pretty competitive.”
Boudvillain’s path to this significant juncture has been anything but straightforward. His journey to Australia began in late 2016, a visit to friends that evolved into a permanent relocation. This followed a three-year stint riding in the Caribbean. He settled down, met his partner, Nell Foley, and started a family. A protracted period of visa issues confined him to track work and pre-training roles for six years before he was finally able to resume race riding in October 2023.
Yet, the intrinsic desire to work with and succeed on horseback remained a constant.
A Childhood Spark and a Wandering Spirit
“Since I first laid my eyes on a horse at 13, I fell in love with horses,” Boudvillain recounted. His early engagement with horses involved “horse ball,” a dynamic sport blending elements of basketball and rugby played from horseback. It was through this initial connection that he discovered the world of racing. “I started with just playing horse ball, which is a mix of basketball and rugby on a horse, and then I discovered the racehorses and I said that’s what I want to do.”
His upbringing, while loving, was not one of significant financial means. His parents, however, were dedicated to supporting their children’s aspirations. “My parents didn’t have a lot of money, but they worked hard to afford us what we wanted to do in the future. It was uni for my brother, and jockeys’ school for me.”
The dual ambition of becoming a skilled jockey and exploring the world presented a unique challenge. “Since then it was always a dream to become a good jockey, but it was also a dream to travel and that doesn’t really go together.” He felt a youthful urgency to experience the world. “I was too young to be so serious. I always thought the world was too big not to be travelled.” He reasoned that pursuing travel earlier in life was more practical than delaying it until later years. “I thought I can race later, but travelling, you don’t do it as easily when you’re older, so I’m glad I did it then because now I have a family, two kids. So everything came at the right time.”
Boudvillain also acknowledged a more wayward streak in his youth. “I was a bit of a troublemaker and I could have gone down a pretty rocky road pretty easily when I was a kid.” Despite growing up in a supportive home, he admits to finding opportunities for mischief. “I grew up in a very good, loving environment, but I found ways to get myself in trouble, so the horses definitely kept me on track.” The discipline and focus required for his early morning work with horses served as a crucial anchor. “Going to work every morning to ride horses, it keeps you focused.” His mother’s pride in his achievements serves as a powerful testament to his journey. “Mum keeps telling me, ‘You’ve come a long way my son, I’m proud of you’.”
