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TRAINER OF THE QUARTER
MATTHIEU PA LU SSIE RE The TRM Trainer of the Quarter award has been won by Matthieu Palussiere. Matthieu and his team will receive a selection of products from the internationally-acclaimed range of TRM supplements, as well as a bottle of fine Irish whiskey. Anna Alcock atthieu Palussiere started his professional career in the military on the back of a baccalaureate at the agricultural college in Le Mans, before turning to racing where he worked under Christian Scandella for two years. In 1995, Palussiere uprooted to Ireland to work for Gilltown Stud finding his niche in their pre-training division. At
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Caroline Norris Gilltown, he met his future wife, Liz, they worked together with horses such as Daylami, Daliapour, Sinndar and Vereva. Matthieu and Liz then moved on to run Michael Halford’s second yard for two years before setting up on their own with a restricted licence in 2005 and his full licence in 2007. Their first winner, Deputy Consort came at Limerick in 2008 and
Tramp Stamp, was Palussiere’s first major National Hunt winner, with a Grade 3 victory at Down Royal. Other notable winners include Leah Claire, Hedges and Rebel Fitz sold to Ireland from France. Matthieu and Liz moved back to France in April 2013, and had their first runners at the end of April. Muharaaj led the way as their first winner at Chantilly on 7th May 2013, followed by a flurry of winners and several black-type horses. Matthieu bided his time for his next major win until 2014 in the Baden-Badener Zukunftsrennen (Group 3) with Citron Spirit. This was followed by a storming victory by Ross Castle in the Prix Texanita at MaisonsLaffitte on 13th May 2016. Little did he know of what 2017 would bring. For a trainer with a relatively small operation, a win in the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot was inspiring to witness and a joy to watch - as highlighted by owner, Con Marnane (Bansha House Stables). Marnane bought the filly as a foal at Arqana, sending her to Julian Ince at Haras du Logis, until the June of her yearling year and then to Trickledown Stud to be prepped for Doncaster Yearling Sales 2016. The filly was led out unsold (with