French jockey Olivier Placais was in a jubilant mood after he brought up a brilliant riding double on Sunday, and he had two very good reasons to be.
The well-travelled rider revealed that the first Leg of the brace, the Lee Freedman-trained Cerdan in the $45,000 Class 4 Non Premier race over 1200m, was actually his 600th career winner, with most of his haul gathered up in France, Switzerland and Singapore.
Quite aptly, the milestone for Placais came from a horse named after legendary French boxer Marcel Cerdan. The former Andre Fabre apprentice jockey might not have set a foot in a boxing ring before, but the euphoric jockey showed he sure knew how to punch the air in delight after he crossed the line.
Country Warrior (Olivier Placais) comes with a late charge to claim Race 8, picture Singapore Turf Club
As another interesting side anecdote, Cerdan, a five-year-old by Danewin, finally opened his account at his last start which was his 24th, with his 18th jockey – top Melbourne hoop Ben Melham, who incidentally was at his very first Singapore ride – and suddenly the winning mood has been cut loose with that second win in a row on Sunday.
Placais was also chuffed with his 601st winner, Country Warrior in the $80,000 Class 3 Division 1 race over 1200m, not because it was totally from left field (he was friendless at $172), but mostly because it marked his first win in Singapore for trainer Shane Baertschiger.
“It’s a great day. Very happy to have won my 600th winner on Cerdan - I’ve been keeping tabs on my score since my very first winner as an apprentice jockey,” said Placais who is at his third Singapore stint, the first coming when he was still a youthful apprentice jockey for ex-Kranji-based French trainer Arnaud de Moussac in 2002, having now chalked up 139 winners at Kranji.
“The horse was relaxed throughout and when I asked him to go again in the straight, he never weakened. It was a good solid effort.
“On Country Warrior, Shane told me to let him settle in fifth or sixth spot and let him stride along, and he should come home for me.
“I had a good spot behind Matthew’s (Kellady) horse (Montaigne, Country Warrior’s stablemate). At the 200m, I knew I had them covered when I peeled him to the outside, but I had to really whack away with him.
“I’m really glad I’ve won my first race for Shane. He’s given me a few rides before, but this is my first win for him.”
Baertschiger might not use “The Conductor” (Placais’ nickname owing to his distinctive high-handed whip wielding) all that often, but they certainly combined well to fine-tune that first hurrah together.
“They didn’t go hard at his last race, he was off the bit when they took off and he got beaten four lengths. I told Olivier that he shouldn’t look at the book, but look at the video,” said the Australian handler in reference to Country Warrior’s last start when beaten in sixth place to Webster.
“Today, there was a more genuine pace to the race, and he finished off very well.”
While Placais was hitting new heights on Sunday, so was Baertschiger. Country Warrior has also sprung him to the top of the Singapore trainer’s premiership log, now sitting on 25 winners, one clear of long-time leader Michael Clements, who drew a blank over the weekend.
Baertschiger’s better-fancied half of his duo, Montaigne ($27) was actually shaping up as the yellow jersey provider when he collared race-leader Unconquered (Glen Boss) and surged to the front 300m out, but it was the one the yard had not really expected to get the money who stole his thunder.
Argentinian newcomer Eagle Eye (Barend Vorster), who was sent out as the $15 favourite for Ricardo Le Grange, looked a solid chance after figuring prominently throughout, but probably lacked that competitive dash (last race was in October 2017 when victorious in Argentina over 1400m) to settle for second best, half-a-length away. The Kajorn Petch Racing No 6 Stable-owned colt by Pure Prize will surely come on from that first local outing.
Montaigne hung on for third place another 1 ¼ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 12.31secs for the 1200m on the Polytrack.
A six-year-old gelding by Markane, Country Warrior has now recorded two wins and five placings from 14 Kranji starts for stakes earnings past the $130,000 mark for the Premier Racing Stable. He amassed A$70,420 for his previous Australian connections courtesy of a handy record of one win (1250m at Canterbury) and five placings from 13 starts in Sydney when trained by champion trainer Chris Waller.
