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French jockey Olivier Placais was a happy man after he booted home his first winner at his third Singapore stint on Sunday.
Licensed for three months, the eight-time Swiss champion jockey returned to Kranji last week, and has not taken too long to show his skills – and unique riding style – have not gone away.
Riding Chase ($59) for one of his staunchest supporters, Alwin Tan, in the penultimate race, the $60,000 Chevron 2007 Stakes, an Open Benchmark 67 race over 1600m, Placais had the Nicconi four-year-old poised to launch upon straightening after coming off a cosy run in fifth on the fence.
Corey Brown had other ideas aboard Gilt Complex, though as he heeled his mount along for his move at the 300m, but Placais, who has not been getting huge books of rides (he had none on Friday and only five rides on moderate chances on Sunday), was not about to be outwitted.
Raising his whip-holding hand in his atypical style, “The Conductor” as he is endearingly nicknamed at Kranji would not give Chase any chance of dropping his bundle, though he could not really wield the stick as he wished with Gilt Complex within sniffing distance on his offside.
It was still persuading enough for Chase, a recent transfer from trainer Mark Walker, to lift his game again and lunge right in time at the wire to peg Gilt Complex back by a neck. Murrayfield (Vlad Duric) ran third another 1 ¾ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 35.97secs for the 1600m on the Long Course.
Placais, whose last Kranji win from his previous tally of 81 came with the David Hill-trained Travertine on March 25, 2012, did return for a lightning visit in March to ride Happy Money for Tan in the Group 2 Merlion Trophy (1200m).
Singapore was always a place he wanted to re-establish himself in even after he left in 2012 to take up a lucrative offer in Switzerland. The 31-year-old admitted to feeling a little underwhelmed by the scant support so far, but that sterling win from the jaws of defeat has put a spring back in his step.
“I know this is just my second day of riding, but I haven’t got many rides so far and I was feeling a bit down, but this win has come at the right moment to lift my spirits,” said Placais.
“He’s quite a lazy horse. In French, I would say he’s as cold as marble, you need to really get a hammer and a chisel to get him going!
“I thought I was heading towards another blank day when Corey came alongside and even headed us, but I could sense the horse was not beaten yet.
“It was hard work but I’m glad it’s paid off. It’s a big relief, and I hope that first win will help me get more support from now on.”
Tan would without question be among the first in the queue.
“It’s good for Olivier. Just like for Danny Beasley (Kiss Me), I’m glad I was able to give him his first winner at this new stint,” said the current premiership leader who saddled a double to take his score to 44, three clear of reigning champion trainer Mark Walker.
“It’s the first time that horse runs for me. He came to me a bit down; he had some problems to his off foreleg, but we’ve been able to fix it.
“After a couple of trials, he has come right. He showed his big heart in today’s win.”
Chase was recording a fourth win that has now brought his prizemoney closer to the $190,000 mark for the Eight Eight One Stable.
When asked if on the strength of such a fighting win whether Chase could be a potential late Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) on July 10, Tan said he would have to give it some thought.
“I don’t have any Derby runner at this point. I’m not sure if he can make it because of his ratings (that are not high enough), but we’ll see,” he said.
