In In the Saddle with Zarkava, Lizzie is a famous racehorse trainer’s daughter, but she can’t stand racing; she resents it taking up all her father’s time and energy, leaving nearly no time for their family. On a trip to an Irish stud she makes friends with the stud manager’s daughter who encourages her to adopt a foal and follow it through its racing career as though it’s her own. Before Lizzie knows it, she is hooked. Through her diary and a non-stop stream of letters between the two girls, the filly’s exciting journey is discovered; from her time in Ireland as a galavanting foal, right through to her resounding victory in the Arc de Triomphe. Lizzie’s first-hand discovery of the passionate world of the sport of kings brings a quiet admiration and acceptance of her father, which heals the relationship between the two bringing them closer together. Everything that concerns the champion is true but the story I have woven around it is romanticised.
In the Saddle with Zarkava
How much has your background as a journalist helped you to write this book?
It has only helped me in as far as doing research for the book. I have no problem in asking questions and searching for the truth. Everything that concerns Zarkava is from the horse’s mouth – so to speak!
How has being married to a racehorse trainer informed the book?
Naturally being married to Zarkava’s trainer gives me a clear insight into how the racing world fits together. A trainer is the hub around which the horse’s world revolves; he plans his/her racing career, manages the surrounding team – training rider, jockey, head lad, vet, osteopath, blacksmith, transporter, food supplier etc. Ultimately he is accountable to each horse’s owner. I know the characters well, the atmosphere and the context of the world I am writing about. On top of that, Alain is scrupulous about accuracy when it comes to writing about any of his horses.
What drew you to children’s fiction?
Children’s fiction attracted me because the general rule of thumb when it comes to putting pen to paper is to write about what you know. I have a very full life with two children, in a top racing yard, and I know that understanding racing from the inside lights up the whole show. I wanted to make it accessible and to impart some of the wonder and excitement of it all. Like many others, as a young girl, I frequently fantasized about having my own horse but I had no idea about racing or racehorses. I just knew they were very fast and very special. To have followed the life and career of a legendary champion from the time it was a foal, to be as close to her as Lizzie, living in the midst of real people who had ridden or taken care of her, would have enthralled me. It gave me great pleasure to write the story.
Please tell us about the character of Lizzie.
On the face of it, Lizzie is a game and strong-willed young girl who knows her own mind and who wishes to understand the world in her own time. Although curious and sociable with her friends, she isn’t in a hurry to grow up. She’s sensitive and loves animals and nature, but doesn‘t like school or sports particularly. She gauges people well and would like to be an actress as she enjoys that very much. But oh how delighted she is to discover another world, right on her door step!
The book is based on a true story – can you tell us a bit more about this?
Zarkava was born in Ireland and trained by my husband Alain de Royer, in the beautiful training grounds of Chantilly, just outside Paris. Ridden by top jockey Christophe Soumillon, this bay filly was a genius on the track, winning all five of her Group One races as a 2 and as a 3 year old, over different distances and on different grounds. Her final crowning triomphe was in the Arc de Triomphe in 2008. A legend in her own right and a dream racehorse to have had in the stables, everyone who has had anything to do with has been impressed by her charisma and sheer brilliance. She is now at stud and her first foal was born in 2010. The offspring are naturally being followed closely for signs of Zarkava’s genius…
How much did you rely on your children to help you capture the voice of the book?
My children are very much part of my life and an obvious reference point. There are echoes of their voices throughout the book, but not exclusively, because I have a strong inner child’s voice of my own,
Why do you think that there are so few books on racing?
The lack of books on racing for children is probably because racing is inextricably associated with money, power, socialising and betting, which are of course not the domain of children. On top of that the combination of valuable, highly-strung racehorses and children is a dangerous cocktail!
But racing in its essence appeals to just about everyone, and particularly children. If you put two kids on a beach with a couple of horses, in a very short time they are going to get on their backs and race. It is one of the most basic and exhilarating forms of recreation and they love to watch too.
Many times I have heard people reminiscing about going to the races as a child with their dad or with the family; about their exciting and enriching shared experience, with time together to admire the magnificent thoroughbreds, to absorb the atmosphere, comprehend the sport, and to be at the heart of the action. At the end of the day there is always the fantasy or silent dream of being on the back of one of those magnificent creatures.
I made a point in the book of sticking to the essential side of racing, of appealing to the child’s sensibility from a more pure, visceral point of view, and keeping away from anything to do with money or betting.
What is next for you?
The next book for children in the subject of racing is all about the Melbourne Cup. Known as ‘the race that stopped a nation’, it is definitely the most extraordinary racing event I have ever experienced. What is more, our yard has first-hand experience of winning it!