September 12, 2025

In the Shion Stakes held on September 7th, he teamed up with Josselin and came in second. The winning horse, Kellifred Ask, controlled the pace from the front and stayed in the lead. Josselin settled in mid-field and gradually moved up, stretching his legs in the straight, but just missed the finish. Looking back on the race, Christophe said, "It was a very good run. I didn't get any results in the graded stakes in the spring, but this time I was very pleased. It was the opening week at Nakayama, and the front-runners held on, but my horse managed to run the race well and gave it his all. Josselin proved he can compete in graded stakes." He reflected on the race, saying it was a good performance that will be useful in the Shuka Sho.

He has two Grade 1 races lined up this weekend. On Sunday, September 14th, he will ride Cherviat for the first time in the Shuka Sho Trial Rose Stakes (G2). In a workout one week before the race, Cherviat recorded a 4F time of 51.4-12.0 seconds on the Ritto Slope, showing off his nimble movements. "This will be our first time riding together in a race, but I felt his great potential when I rode him in training at Ritto. He still has a little room to maneuver, but I'm sure he'll improve even more in his workouts. I can sense his speed, and I think the 1800m conditions at Hanshin are a good fit for him. It's a race I'm looking forward to," he said.

Furthermore, on Monday, September 15th (national holiday), he is scheduled to ride Pick Des Mouches in the Kikuka Sho trial, the Saint Lite Kinen (G2). In his previous race, the Machida Special (2-win class), he came in second. His racing form shows clear signs of growth. "This will be his first attempt at a graded race, but in his previous race he ran well until the end. The winning horse, Yamanin Boucle, was carrying 52kg, while Pick Des Mouches was carrying 54kg, so the difference of 2kg probably had an impact on the winning margin. His pedigree means he can handle middle distances. We won't know until we try him, but if he can qualify, he is a horse that could be considered for the 3000m Kikuka Sho."

"Both horses have great potential, so I want to see them produce good results," said jockey Lemaire.

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

Question (Ice Tea)
"Is there anything you keep in mind when riding in a final workout before a race?"

Jockey Christophe Lemaire
"When I ride for training, I first hear in detail about the horse's condition from the trainer. Each horse has its own quirks, and their movements can be completely different during morning training and in the actual race. For this reason, it's important to talk with people who usually ride horses and the trainer, and have them share information such as their habits at the gate, and whether they tend to lean inward or outward. The more information you have, the more information you'll have to make decisions in the race. Having enough information in advance makes it easier to predict how the race will unfold, which ultimately helps to reduce your own riding mistakes," he said, conveying the importance of communicating with those involved and understanding the horse's characteristics.

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

Announcements from the brand

A pop-up store is currently running at GENTA THE STAGE on the first floor of the North Building of Matsuzakaya Nagoya in Nagoya city until September 16th. Christophe will be visiting the store on Friday the 12th and Tuesday the 16th to hold an autograph session, which will be decided by lottery. For more details, please see the "POP UP Store" section on the official website.

Starting next time, the blog update date will change from every other Friday to every other Tuesday. The next update is scheduled for the 30th, so please look forward to it.