Jupiter Gold's French connection
Marc Lerner replacing Olivier Placais as the rider of Jupiter Gold in Raffles Cup
With Olivier Placais suspended, Jupiter Gold will have another French jockey on top in Sunday's $1 million Group 1 Raffles Cup over 1,600m - Marc Lerner.
If some see a French connection there, Japanese trainer Hideyuki Takaoka explained that Lerner's booking on the Congrats five-year-old was more by default than anything else.
Takaoka has formed a lethal liaison with Placais this year - with 18 of his haul of 30 winners coming under the French rider, including three on Jupiter Gold, most notably in the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby over 1,800m in July.
But, when Placais was recently outed for careless riding for two consecutive sentences of two days each, Takaoka had to go in search of another jockey for Jupiter Gold in the race which is now slated as the first leg (used to be the second leg and over 1,800m) of the Singapore Triple Crown series.
Lerner, being Placais' fellow countryman, was just Gallic coincidence.
"After Olivier lost his appeal, I approached Marc by myself - not Olivier, even though they're both French, and he said okay," said Takaoka.
Some may think the German-based 200-odd race winner was a surprising choice to shoulder such a high-profile responsibility, given the 27-year-old only made his Kranji debut on Friday night, a second on longshot Moritz Eclipse as his best result from five rides, but Takaoka is willing to take a chance on him.
"I've seen him ride," said Takaoka. "He's not as vigorous as Olivier, he's softer, more your typical patient European rider.
"I heard he won a Group 2 race over 2,400m in Germany before he came here. They are used to this type of staying races and that may suit Jupiter Gold and Makanani.
"I may also put him on Makanani in the Group 3 El Dorado Classic (2,000m) on the same day, but it all depends what weight she gets."
Lerner, who goes to scale at 53kg, was delighted to have a plum ride come his way at such an early stage of his new six-month contract, even if he is fully aware he is just warming the saddle for Placais.
"I know I got on because there was nobody else. I will still give it my best shot, even if I know Olivier is back on whether I win or not," said Lerner. "I've ridden Jupiter Gold at the last three mornings and he's very well. He has a very good mind."
Takaoka said that Jupiter Gold has pulled up a treat after his last win under Placais in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1,200m last week, and that Makanani was peaking at the right time.
The Japanese-bred mare ran second to the smart Noah From Goa in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1,800m at her last start.
"Both Jupiter Gold and Makanani are doing well," he added. "Jupiter Gold has come on further since his first-up run and Makanani is getting ready for the Gold Cup.
"The El Dorado is not three weeks before the Gold Cup like before, it's seven weeks now. She may not have another run in between, I'll just send her straight to the Gold Cup after the El Dorado."
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