This week it was announced that prize-winning French jockey, Olivier Peslier, was retiring from competitive racing. One of racing’s biggest characters and winners, the 51-year-old had the accolade of winning the Prix De L’Arc de Triomphe four times. However, he has also made a name for himself flat racing around the world. This article looks back on the impressive career of Olivier Peslier.
Racing in France
The trophies Peslier has amassed have been second to none. He has been the French champion four times, with four Prix De L’Arc de Triomphe wins. However, the most remarkable feat is not what he won, but his longevity. One of the few seniors in the dressing room, the 51-year-old began racing way back at the start of the 90s. He has raced everywhere from Hong Kong to Qatar in top-class races and has over 3,700 winners to his name.
On home soil, his four wins began in 1996 with Helissio. 12 months later he would return with another great horse, Peintre Celebre. They would win both the Arc and the French derby together. For his 1998 win, he rode the joint favourite Sagamix.
However, after this hat-trick, it would be a long wait for his next Arc win. Between 2003 and 2014, he was the retained rider for Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, where he was synonymous with Goldikova. They would provide him with the horse Solemia, who would join him for his last Arc win in 2012.
Racing in the UK
1998 was another big year for the jockey, especially for racing in the UK. Luca Cumani needed a jockey to race in the derby and rival Frankie Dettori had claimed the fancied Cape Verdi. Thus, Peslier took the supposed second best. That horse, High Rise, went on to romp home as the victor.
His other big win on British soil came from Cockney Rebel in the 2000 Guineas in 2007. The horse had been beaten in his juvenile outings and was very overlooked, but would win in this race and also follow it up in the Irish 2000 Guineas.
Another fantastic horse he rode was Harbinger, owned by Highclere Racing. It won the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2010 by 11 lengths. He had previously ridden one of their other champions, Delilah, and marked the horse for victory before it showed its mettle to the public. Peslier described it as one of the best horses he had ever ridden.
Of all the horses associated with him, Goldikova has to be the most memorable. Together, they won 17 of her 27 career starts. This resulted in wins in 2008, 2009 and 2010 for the Breeders Cup Mile. Trained by Freddy Head, it would also net the Falmouth Stakes and the Queen Anne Stakes.
Racing in Japan
Peslier also had a lot of success in the Far East. In Japan, he won 12 Group 1 races and the Japan Cup. His most famous ride of this time was Jungle Pocket, with whom he won the Japan Cup in 2001. One of two victories, he was so prolific during this 2000 to 2005 period the fans began to call him the Blue Samurai.
His two final rides took place at La Teste in the southwest of France. However, they did not provide much luck as he rode for Nasser Al Shahania. This was unexpected, as the two had experienced glory in the past, working together on multiple occasions.
Reaching Retirement
Peslier has noted that his health is fine, but that he now has fewer horses and needs them to practise. This has led him to decide that now is a great time to bow out. Unsure of what the future holds, he has noted that he will continue riding horses non-competitively. He has decided to break over the summer to spend time with his friends and family, before deciding on his next move. Racing will sorely miss him, but it is a career that should be celebrated, and all in the community will wish him the best.