If you had asked me a year ago where I would be, I never would have said Chantilly. I didn't even know where that was, and all I knew about Chantilly was the whipped cream. And I knew even less about horse racing.
A quick story on me: Named after Princess Leia from Star Wars, I was born in Monte Carlo, Monaco, where my father was working in international finance. When I was a baby, his work took us to Miami, Florida. Some severe health issues set me on the path to develop passions for music (singing and songwriting) and sports (specifically golf and swimming).
So how did I get here to Chantilly, you may ask? Well, it all started on February 26, 2016, in DeLand, Florida, when I met Andres Fernandez. (Note: I remember the exact day because I have a dated photo on my phone). Andres was visiting Stetson University for our golf team's invitational tournament. I was the coach's assistant, and he was to join the team that coming fall.
Fast forward and Andres and I become best friends. I meet his parents at Homecoming the next year, our families have lunch together after graduation, and Andres later stayed in my guest room while getting his MBA. (Note: I told him he could stay for "2 weeks" while he looked for a place… he stayed 6 months 😂. But best roommate ever!)
Fast forward again and it's August 15, 2022. I have moved back to my birthplace of Monaco to get my Master's in Sport Business Management at the International University of Monaco. After spending 4 years at the Ladies Professional Golf Association, most recently as Manager of Integrated Content, I was ready to pursue my goal of higher education.
And who was living in Monaco at this time? None other than Andres' parents - Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals and Marilina Vilches. They became like my second parents. I would go hiking and to music concerts with Marilina, receive entrepreneurial lessons from Leo, and we even took a weekend trip to Italy together during a break from my studies.
I remember during a visit to their boat (August 20, 2022), Blue Rose Cen was racing at Deauville in the Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage. My parents were visiting Monaco at the time to help me move, and we all sat on the couch to watch the race together. Blue Rose Cen placed second, and the minute the race was over, Leo called his trainer Christopher Head to discuss what happened.
I was enraptured by Leo's passion for the industry, as he recapped the strategy with me, taught me about the breeding system, and discussed some of his vision for the future. In the coming months, Marilina would always send me videos after the races, if I was not watching them in person.
Fast forward one more time, and I am about to complete my master's degree. As part of our program, I have to undergo a 6-month "working experience" to receive my diploma.
I had two requirements when I moved back to Monaco: get into a sport other than golf and learn French. The latter was difficult to do while living in the principality, as most everyone spoke English and there were not a lot of opportunities to practice. As for the former, I was struggling to find the right fit.
During one of my visits to the boat, Marilina and Leo had joked that if anything, I could come and work with them as they needed someone in Communications, and I had a strong background in that field. The more we started thinking about it, the more it became a realistic opportunity for us both.
So that's how I ended up here. Director of Communications for Yeguada Centurion, currently living in Chantilly, France for the coming months to be with our trainer Christopher Head. I will be undergoing my own training as I learn everything I can about thoroughbred horses - and the language of French.
I cannot thank Yeguada Centurion enough for this opportunity to take the next step in my career. And I hope that you follow my journey into the industry.
Welcome to "Golf Greens to Racing Scenes: An Unbridled Journey Into Thoroughbred Racing."
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