King Gold and Adrie de Vries (left) collar Cagliostro (centre) and Laurel River on the line in the G3 Firebreak Stakes (picture Dubai Racing Club)

The rock star and his 'lynchpin'; Nicolas Caullery and Marine Henry plot further surprises in Godolphin Mile

by Laura King, Dubai Racing Club

Most trainers are proud to have runners at the Dubai World Cup meeting – it is, after all, the pinnacle of the year for many. Few, however, are so proud that they have special shirts made.

Enter Team Nicolas Caullery and their range of attire bearing the words ‘Godolphin Mile 2025, King Gold and Fort Payne.’

Caullery’s assistant and partner Marine Henry is the chief model of the fashion line, as well as the lynchpin of their Dubai operation. A slick operation it is, too. Since 2017, when his very first Dubai Racing Carnival runner, Golden Wood, was a winner, Caullery has ten wins from just 55 runs in the UAE, an impressive strike rate of 18.2 per cent.

That record could get even better on Saturday when King Gold lines up as one of just two Group I winners in the G2 Godolphin Mile (sponsored by EMAAR). He earned his spot courtesy of a giant-slaying victory over 2024 Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River in the G3 Firebreak Stakes in January. Stablemate Fort Payne gained his invitation with a win in the G3 Burj Nahaar, another shock result.

“It’s a bonus to be invited on World Cup day,” says Henry, who trained successfully under her own name in France prior to joining forces with Caullery. “When you don’t have 120 horses, and only a few good ones, it’s amazing.”

Saturday will be another chapter in the story of Caullery’s rapidly rising Chantilly operation, which he started in 2011.

“Nico is really good at choosing horses and he’s really good with people,” says Henry, who massages horses – including her opposition – as a sideline. “I’m good with horses and not with people!

“Nico has his firm ideas – even if you tell him something is not a good idea, he will do it anyway, if the timing is right.”

Dubai is now a big part of their year, with Henry managing the team at Meydan throughout the Carnival, with Caullery flying over as much as French commitments allow.

“When we came to Dubai for the first time, we didn’t know what to expect and then we won, which was good publicity,” she continues. “We are always happy to come here because it’s nice for the horses to have a winter in the sunshine.”

King Gold’s win in the G1 Prix Maurice du Gheest in 2023 was a turning point for the team, who now have around 60 horses in training at their Chantilly base.

“That was the first Group I so that was really important, for Nico,” she says. “I hope it won’t be the last!”

Henry, whose tall figure makes her easy to spot in the mornings, rides King Gold each day, admirably managing the entire’s occasional quirks. It’s another grey who occupies a special place in her heart, however: dual Meydan winner Batwan, who she now owns.

“Batwan saved my life,” she says. “I went through a burnout and he is my psychological protector, he is special in my heart.”

Henry, who has a 12-year-old son, Charles, is a force of nature, a big personality whose love for her horses shines through. Her partner, however, has a passion of his own; he’s the lead singer in a rock band.

“That man does not sleep!” says Henry. “They started playing little bars and now they are at Chantilly Racecourse!”

If King Gold or Fort Payne win on Saturday, the celebrations will be wild indeed.

Marine Henry (left) with King Gold after his Firebreak Stakes success (picture Dubai Racing Club)

Marine Henry riding Fort Payne during morning trackwork at Meydan (picture Dubai Racing Club/Liesl King)