Lemaire excited for Queen Elizabeth Stakes hit-and-run mission
Champion jockey Christophe Lemaire, with nearly 100 Group One victories across seven countries, is set to ride in Sydney for the very first time when he partners Japanese runner Rousham Park in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) this Saturday.
While Lemaire is already known to Australian fans for his win aboard Dunaden in the 2011 Melbourne Cup, this weekend will mark his introduction to the Sydney racing scene.
Turning down a major engagement in Japan, Lemaire saw the Randwick ride as an unmissable opportunity.
“I have never had the opportunity (before). With the French horses, no opportunity and with the Japanese, no opportunity,” Lemaire said.
“There is also a big race in Japan this weekend but for me to ride in Sydney will be a new experience and this is very important for me.
“I always like to travel around and I think riding in Sydney, at least once in a jockey’s career, it’s something important.
“I’m lucky enough, I won the Melbourne Cup once. Sydney is also a major city for horse racing in Australia and here are the best jockeys and the top horses so I’m really looking forward to riding here.”
Rousham Park enters the race off the back of a solid international campaign. The six-year-old entire, trained by Hiroyasu Tanaka, was a close second to Rebel’s Romance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, with Lemaire aboard.
“It was a very good experience for him travelling to America,” Lemaire said.
“He performed very well in the Breeders’ Cup. He is used to racing on a right-hand racecourse. He is quite adaptable.”
Following his recent victory in the UAE Derby, Lemaire arrived in Sydney this week and got reacquainted with Rousham Park during a Wednesday gallop at Canterbury. He’ll be focused on just one mount this Saturday—his Queen Elizabeth Stakes hope.
“I have a very good souvenir from Australia winning the Melbourne Cup in 2011 with Dunaden,” he said.
“Hopefully this weekend it will again be a good result for Rousham Park and all the connections.”
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Tony Gollan’s two-year-old Itching To Go in 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Tony Gollan is leaning on a proven strategy as Itchintogo lines up on a seven-day backup in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) this Saturday. The approach has delivered strong results historically, with six winners of the $3 million race following the same path over the past 15 years. Purchased for $60,000...