April 26, 2024

Newspaper reporters came to the event and featured the new "CL by C. Lemaire" products. One of the topics that came up in the media interviews was the retirement announcement of jockey Olivier Perrier, whom Christophe admires.
"Olivier, like jockey Yutaka Take, is a legendary jockey in France. He was blessed with great talent for riding, and came to Japan early on with a short-term license from the JRA, where he achieved success, and he became a role model for people like me and Mirko. Jockeys of my age and I observed his riding and imitated him, aiming to ride coolly. He races quietly and smoothly on the horse, but in the straights he uses powerful action to follow the horse all the way to the finish line. His records and victories in important races around the world will remain in people's hearts forever," said the Japanese jockey, expressing regret at seeing the senior jockey, who is well-known in Japan, leave the turf.

When I messaged him on Tuesday, April 23rd, asking how he was doing, he replied, "He's still in a little pain," along with a photo of him undergoing rehabilitation. Before returning to racing, he will be riding him in training to check his condition, and then preparing for his return. I look forward to seeing Christophe in top physical condition as he returns to the G1 stage in the spring.