Jan Faltejsek rode the winner of the Česká pojišťovna Velká Pardubická steeplechase last October. That is the height of achievement for a jumps jockey in the Czech Republic. However, Faltejsek has also tried to break through in other countries in past years. In England, and in Italy.

After the Velka he set out on another big adventure, taking a route that that few Czech riders have taken in the past. He took a job with the French champion trainer over fences. He has now completed his first months in the yard of trainer Guillaume Macaire, and is richer by a considerable amount of experience in France, though he has not had many rides in recent weeks. Now, however, the season is beginning to warm up for the Macaire yard, and the Czech jockey is putting down roots.

“It’s been a long winter, but not as cold as in the Czech Republic,” he says. It has not been as cold as earlier winters that Faltejsek spent in England [with George Charlton, in Northumberland]. “The temperatures have been a lot pleasanter, but it has been very rainy. In fact, it’s been a rainier winter than the trainer can remember in recent years,” Faltejsek explains.  “In fact, our training track has been waterlogged, and we haven’t had anywhere to prepare the horses. We’ve had to improvise for our work riding, and that may explain why our season has started slowly,” he adds. The area where Macaire trains [at Les Mathes, which I think is north of Bordeaux and south of La Rochelle] is not well known to us in the Czech Republic in connection with horse racing.
Jan Faltejsek has adapted to French conditions to the extent that some French people consider him to be ‘one of their own’.  

“I’ve improved quite a lot in the language in these few months, and I already more or less understand what they want, and I even sometimes try to answer in French. When they see that you are making an effort, they are much more approachable than when someone comes along and speaks to them in English,” he says. “I’ve made some good progress, and it is good for my work in France,” he adds.
Having a full workload is his number one target in France. For the moment, he is not considering making any excursions to his old workplaces in Italy or the UK. “The season is now getting properly under way here, and in the coming weeks I think some more rides will come along, mainly in France. At the moment I don’t think there is much point riding in Italy or the UK. Of course, I’d be happy to go back to England to ride Knockara [Jan Faltejsek rode Knockara Beau into 7^th place in last year’s Chetenham Gold Cup], but I know those times are past. The other horses from the British stables I rode for are not at the same level, and it would not make the same sense to ride them. And I’ve made a resolution to try to break through in France, and I am trying to dedicate myself to that target,” says Jan Faltejsek. 

After some injury problems in the first weeks in France, he is now in good shape, and is looking forward to some more engagements in France. If it works out, he will have a unique chance to succeed in a country that most of his Czech colleagues have not even dreamt about.

Translation of an interview by Petr Guth in Dostihovy svet