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T the close of the autumn season, a packed Hipodromo de la Zarzuela, watched the Francisco Rodriguez-trained Arkaitz triumph in a closelyfought Gran Premio Villamejor; a race which saw Ziga make things very difficult for the three-year-old and almost get his nose in front at the line. However, Triple Crown (Poule, Derby and Villamejor) glory belonged to Arkaitz and Rodriguez. Spanish racing people affectionately call Rodriguez ‘the diminutive’, or ‘Paquito’, because he was a child prodigy, beginning his apprenticeship four days before his 10th birthday in Madrid with trainer Emilio Ceca, who was from a long-standing racing family. In Spain an apprentice (or amateur) can start to ride in races at 14, which Paquito did, winning on his first two rides with Thermidor and Zulia. In 1976, at just 16 years-old, he was given the huge responsibility of riding one of Spain’s bestever horses, Rheffissimo, and together they lifted the Gran Premio de Madrid. "The horse was good, but I was very good as well," he laughs.
He carried on riding successfully for another 20 years until 1996, achieving a second place finish in the jockeys’ championship in 1994. During his last six years as a jockey he was consistently ranked in the top five in Spain. Although a tall and lanky rider, and admittedly a bit agricultural in a finish, he had a great sense of pace, winning the 1994 Copa de Oro at San Sebastian, then a Group 3, on King Cobra. It was a memorable victory as he lost his whip in the dying strides and had to slap the horse home. The celebrations went on long into the night. As a trainer, Rodriguez has been a regular top 10 finisher since 2006, and in the last five seasons has finished fourth and above – second this past season. He has big plans for Arkaitz, who he considers
potentially a Group 1 campaigner. With this in mind he plans to start him off in the Group 3 Prix Exbury at Saint-Cloud, France, in March 2015. The Group 2 Prix d’Harcourt and Group 1 Prix Ganay, both at Longchamp, next April will also be sure to be in his sights. n Rodriguez (left) with Arkaitz after his win in the Gran Premio Villamejor
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