Inglis proudly bring you:
Fleur Blanch – Grafton “Girl” Who Juggles Motherhood With Training
By John Curtis
FLEUR Blanch was nearly 40 weeks pregnant when she took out her trainer’s licence toward the end of 2019.
Thankfully, her first winner with her very first starter arrived before the baby did.
This was at Coffs Harbour on December 5 that year when Melbourne cast-off Basanite landed a Benchmark 66 Handicap (1200m) at $31, and Paige entered the world 17 days later just before Christmas.
“I was 42 weeks with Paige when she was born,” Blanch said. “She wasn’t in any hurry.
“Robbie Laing trained Basanite and won two races with the horse, and he was also placed at Sandown.
“I bought him online for $3000 and was very confident he could run Top 4 at Coffs that day.
“When he won, everyone was telling me not to get too excited in case the baby came.”
Married to fellow Grafton trainer Scott Henley, Blanch successfully juggles motherhood, looking after their three young children (Lyla 8, Zachary 6, and Paige, now 2), with preparing 10 horses at the couple’s on-course stables.
Fleur Blanch with husband Scott Henley and their children (from left) Zachary, Paige and Lyla.
It was a love match made at the famous Tulloch Lodge stables at Randwick, where both worked with racing’s first lady Gai Waterhouse.
“I enjoyed riding the horses when they went to the beach, and Scott was a first-class trackwork rider,” Blanch said.
“He also rode at the picnics, and rode a winner when Rosehill hosted a meeting to coincide with the Melbourne Cup.
“Gai was absolutely wonderful. I loved every moment there.
“Like her father TJ Smith, she was always very aware of publicity being helpful to her business, and always used to say that any news was good news.”
Blanch’s 12-year stint at Tulloch Lodge included taking Fiorente south for the import’s two outstanding Melbourne Cup performances; finishing second at $31 at his Australian debut, with James McDonald aboard, to another import Green Moon in 2012, before returning a year later, this time with Damien Oliver in the saddle, to defeat Red Cadeaux and Mount Athos, at $7.
Keen to eventually train herself, she took a 12 months’ break to travel overseas and worked for seven-times American Trainer Of the Year Todd Pletcher, who has won the Kentucky Derby twice (with Super Saver in 2010 and Always Dreaming in 2017).
“I went to the USA around my fifth year with Gai at a time when Todd was leading trainer in six States,” Blanch said.
“He ran a very big operation, and it was a tremendous experience working there. I wanted to learn as much as I could, and was so glad I did it.”
Blanch has always loved horses – and understandably so given her father Kevin, who turned 82 earlier this month, was one of Victoria’s leading harness racing trainers.
But it was thoroughbreds and not standardbreds which she fell in love with.
“I was born in Grafton and Dad helped fellow trainer Hunter Kilner, working for him and sourcing horses for a few years,” she said.
“My older sister Lisa also loved being around horses, and we were always very close.
“I looked up to her and did everything she did. She went to Sydney to work for Gai, and I followed a couple of years later.”
Blanch certainly didn’t rush into taking out her training licence.
Following her lengthy time with Waterhouse and the USA trip, Blanch spent 12 months in Victoria with record-breaking seven times Melbourne Cup winning owner Lloyd Williams at his magnificent Macedon Lodge property.
“Lloyd knew I was Gai’s girl, especially having been in Melbourne for those two Cups with Fiorente, and was happy to take me on,” she said.
“I joined Lloyd’s team, and Scott worked for Leon and Troy Corstens.
“Back then, various racing courses were available with TAFE in Victoria, and an employer had to spend $3500 if an employee wanted to undertake one of those courses, and got $10,000 back.
“Lloyd spent millions each year because of his passion to win the Melbourne Cup, so he had no problem about me doing a trainer’s course.
“I was able to do some of it online, and TAFE teachers also came out to the stables during work hours.
“It wasn’t mandatory then for anyone wanting to get a trainer’s licence to successfully complete the course, but it is now.”
After a year in Victoria, the couple decided it was time to head back to Grafton. Whilst Scott wasn’t born in the Jacaranda City, he was happy to settle there and take out his training licence.
His first runner was a Corstens cast-off Rich Love at Grafton on May 23, 2014 and his breakthrough winner came at the same track only a few weeks later when Sunofwolf was successful in a Class 1 Handicap (1425m) at only his second outing for his new trainer.
Whilst Henley was up and running, Blanch’s training career had to wait a few years longer. Starting a family took priority.
A phone call last September from another former Waterhouse employee, Gerard Jenkinson, provided an unexpected boost to her stable.
“Gerard used to ride a pony helping Scott go out on some of the tough horses he used to handle for Gai in trackwork,” Blanch said.
“He mentioned he had three horses – a three, four and five-year-old – and all were unraced that he wanted me to have a go with.
“When they arrived, I really liked the four-year-old, who races as Tigertude.
“He has won three (and been placed in another two) of his seven starts, and was really good winning first-up at the Coffs Harbour Cup meeting on August 4.
“Tigertude is still a bit raw but improving with each run, and will be even better next preparation.
“Coffs Harbour has been a lucky track for me as six of my 17 wins so far have been there, and Tigertude’s rider Anthony Allen also has been good, riding nine of my winners.”
Blanch was chuffed when Hugh Bowman, who won the $150,000 Coffs Harbour Cup on a Lloyd Williams’ horse Hosier for Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, took time to chat with her at the meeting.
“Hugh and I used to walk around Centennial Park in Sydney,” she explained. “It was terrific of him to come and say hello.”
Blanch has done a terrific job with the Jenkinson trio, and can now boast winning at least one race with each of them.
She achieved a career highlight yesterday, winning her first double -and on her home track to boot – with the other Jenkinson pair, Miss Super and Merven (with Allen on board both).
Miss Super is the younger (now four) of the trio and, following a Port Macquarie Maiden win in May, resumed to trounce her rivals in a Class 1 Handicap (1005m).
Merven followed up on a recent Port Macquarie second by breaking through at his eighth start in a 1708m Maiden Handicap.
Blanch and her husband race their horses in similar colours. The lime green and black checked sleeves and cap are identical, but Fleur’s jacket is purple, and Scott’s is hot pink.
Not only do they share the colours, but also great rivalry.
But that friendly rivalry reached a new level when Merven shed his maiden status yesterday.
“Merven is the oldest of the three horses Gerard sent me, and he initially wanted to call him Swervin Merven as he is by Sidestep,” Blanch said.
“Scott was adamant I would never win a race with him.
“He said he would stand naked in front of the Clocktower here at Grafton if I was able to win one with the horse.
“But to his credit, he did admit yesterday morning he thought I could win a double with Miss Super and Merven.
“I’m not sure about Scott keeping his promise now. Perhaps he might have to do it at two o’clock one morning when no one is around!”
– HOOFNOTE: Tigertude, who created such a good impression in coming from last to win at Coffs Harbour, is likely to start next at the Goldmarket meeting at the Gold Coast on August 26.
