By Bernard Le Courtois/Translation Christopher King
It was with great sadness that we announce the death of our stallion Alligator Fontaine. It’s true that he lived to the great old age of 30, but it’s always a difficult moment to say goodbye to a horse that has shared 30 years of your life.
Alligator was born at the stud of Michel Pelissier (Normandy) with an exceptional pedigree, as he was the son of Noren-Gayssire Fleury – horse of the year 1984 in the USA, and Nighty Fontaine, the sister of the famous stallion, I Love You – horse of the year 1983 in the USA, and winner of the World Cup in that same year.
I bought him as a foal with our friend Marion Grimblat – Alligator was then brought up at the Haras de Brullemail. He started his jumping career with Pascale Wittmer, and was the revelation of the six-year-old generation. Syndicated for five million francs, he joined the stables of Michel Robert, but it was later with Eric Navet that he achieved his greatest success, French Champion in 1999, twice finishing second in the Derbies of La Baule and Aachen, winner of the Sires of the World, as well as many other international victories. He is still the only SF stallion to have reached the jumping performance index of ISO 190, closing his career at 16 as Penelope Leprevost’s first GP horse, and then with Sophie Coutureau-Pelissier at 17...
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