August 15, 2025

This weekend, Christophe will be riding two Japanese horses, Ascoli Piceno and Alohiali'i, at Deauville Racecourse in France.

When I called him at 7pm on August 12th, Japan time, he was in the middle of traveling from Chantilly to Deauville. I'm ashamed to say that when I requested an interview for this blog, I was surprised at his agility as he travels around the world, saying, "What? You're in France right now?!" As the interview began, he spoke to me on the other end of the phone, saying, "This morning I went to see Ascoli Piceno at Chantilly. His assistant was riding him and he looked to be in great condition. I also rode a local French horse in training." He had immediately gone to the training center to check out the Japanese horses, and had ridden the horse himself, to let me know that he had completed a job.

Ascoli Piceno will compete in the Prix Jacques Le Marois (G1), a race to determine the strongest European summer miler, held over a 1,600-meter turf course. Longtime horse racing fans will remember this race, which was won by Taiki Shuttle in 1998. Before arriving in France, jockey Lemaire won the Ibis Summer Dash with Puro Magic on August 3rd. This was his first victory in a straight-line race in five years. Straight-line races are extremely rare in Japan, with the only race held at Niigata Racecourse. The Prix Jacques Le Marois is held over a 1,600-meter straight course. Since there are no races with these conditions in Japan, we asked him directly, "Is there a strategy for winning?"

"If the horse likes to take the bit from the start, it's important to create a 'wall' behind the horse. If there's a corner, I'll take the bit there, but in a straight race, they may make a mistake and run the whole way. It's important to build up momentum. Of course, depending on their running style and the condition of the track, they may be able to break away and win," he said, sharing some important points to keep in mind when racing in a straight line from a jockey's perspective. Regarding Ascoli Piceno's overseas trips, he said with a smile, "She's been to Australia and Saudi Arabia, so she's used to traveling abroad. Like me, she loves away races (laughs)," revealing no anxiety about the trip.

Another Japanese horse, Alohialii, will compete in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (GII). While this race is not well-known in Japan, it is an important preliminary race in France for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Ace Impact, the 2023 winner, also won here to take the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. This will be the first time jockey Lemaire has ridden this horse. "I've watched the race footage and have his running in mind. He's shown great potential since he was two years old. If he can come in first or second in this race, he could be in line for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe," he said. He also commented on the weather and track conditions. "We've had good weather this past week. I think Deauville, with its firm track and flat surface, is well suited to Japanese horses. The temperature in France is high, around 34°C, but the humidity is low, making it comfortable. I'll be riding at Deauville for four consecutive days, not just on the weekend, as I've been asked to ride local horses before that." He seemed to be looking forward to the upcoming Deauville races.

He also left a comment about jockey Yutaka Take, who achieved the remarkable feat of 4,600 wins in horse racing last weekend. "I'm happy to be a part of such a historic moment. Just like tennis player Rafael Nadal and golfer Tiger Woods, Take Yutaka has achieved overwhelming results in horse racing. I have nothing but respect for him," he said, praising the legend's achievements.

This weekend's race footage of Christophe will be broadcast on Green Channel as part of the "2025 Prix Jacques Le Marois Live Broadcast." Let's cheer on the first Japanese horse to win since 1998 on TV!

He answered questions from readers who submitted them to the social media project "#AskLemaire."

Question (Tomo Tomo⚡️)

"Jockey Lemaire has a very positive image. Is there anything you do to 'reward yourself' to stay positive?"

Jockey Christophe Lemaire

"Of course, maintaining my concentration during races is the most important thing. It's also important to find something to focus on outside of work. I love traveling, and I can get absorbed in thinking up ideas for my brand. There is pressure during important races, but if I immerse myself in other activities I can forget about it, which ultimately helps me make sharper decisions when riding."

The "CL by C. Lemaire" blog is still accepting "Questions for Lemaire" on X (formerly Twitter). Please feel free to send in your questions.

Article written by

藤井勘一郎

こんにちは、藤井勘一郎です。このたび『CL by C.ルメール』のホームページでクリストフ・ルメール騎手のブログを担当させていただく事となりました。毎週金曜日、私からの視線でルメール騎手の魅力や競馬の話、そして『CL by C.ルメール』に対しての情熱を書いていくつもりです。文章を書くことは私にとって新しいチャレンジですが、引き受けたからには皆さんにも楽しく読んでもらえるように頑張ります。よろしくお願いします！