In a move that has rocked the French racing world, Daniel Wildenstein has taken all 42 of the horses that he had under the care of trainer Andre Fabre at Chantilly and sent them to Elie Lellouche at nearby Lamorlaye.

The famous art dealer ended his relationship with France's leading trainer on Monday night for what his son Alec Wildenstein described as personal reasons. Alec was clear that his father continues to have the highest professional respect for Fabre, who has been champion trainer in France in each of the last fourteen years, or every year since he began training for Wildenstein in 1987.

Speaking to the Racing Post, Fabre said that "this is part of life as trainer." He was even able to find a silver lining in the episode, claiming that this would make it easier for him to comply with the new French labor laws that require companies to pare down to a 35-hour work week.

Wildenstein and Fabre have combined for a number of big race victories, most notably with Peintre Celebre in the Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby) and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1997.

In America they sent shock waves through Santa Anita in 1993 when Arcangues came from last to first for a memorable 133-1 victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Lellouche, meanwhile, had previously trained horses for Wildenstein from 1990 to 1996, among them Epervier Bleu, Pistolet Bleu, and Bigstone.

Wildenstein and Fabre ended their 15-year relationship at Saint-Cloud on Monday on a rather upbeat note when Volga took the listed Prix de Bagatelle shortly before First Magnitude finished fourth in their final collaboration in the Group 2 Prix Jean de Chaudenay.

The dismissal of Fabre is not the first time that Wildenstein has fired a high profile trainer. Three years after he had won consecutive Prix de l'Arc de Triomphes with All Along and Sagace in 1983 and 1984, Patrick-Louis Biancone was sacked by Wildenstein, upon which the owner began his fruitful relationship with Fabre.