It’s not just the Aussies who are having a busman’s holiday this weekend, but the French, too.
With Sunday being race-free at Kranji this week, jockey Olivier Placais is taking the cue from Sydney-bound jockeys Corey Brown and Glen Boss by heading overseas for rides.
The bookings in his former Switzerland base may not be as high-profile as the Australians’ Group 1 missions (read other article), but the six-time Swiss champion jockey would not have missed being at country track Maienfield for anything in the world this Sunday.
“Maien-where?” we hear you ask.
The Rhine Valley canton with a population of 3,000 inhabitants is better known for popular Swiss tale Heidi than its “cow field” - as Placais good-naturedly dubs the racetrack himself – which is transformed into a makeshift racecourse once in a while, but Placais knew he had to be there, at least as a spectator with a ringside seat this Sunday.
“Jurg Langmeier is a legend in Swiss racing. He was a jumps and flat jockey and retired to become a trainer but he’s decided to make a comeback and Maienfeld is the place he’s chosen for that,” said Placais.
“I had no idea he was back until my girlfriend Astrid told me. I used to ride for Jurg before I came back to Singapore this year, and we’ve become good friends.
“Jurg is a showman, a riding lesson in itself. He and his horse become one body when he rides, and I’ve learned a lot from his riding style.
“Maienfeld is also a special place for me as even though it’s a cow field when there is no racing, I’ve won a race there with Shizun (pictured above winning with Placais), who was a champion three-year-old, but who is now deceased.
“When I told Astrid I was flying over as there are no races here this Sunday, she tried to organise some rides for me. I am booked on two rides, Reine Of Light and Runaway, but I don’t know much about them other than they are not leading hopes.
“To me, sitting in a plane for 24 hours back and forth was all about seeing Jurg back riding in a race. If I can ride a winner, that is a bonus.”
Placais flies out on Saturday and will be back in Singapore on Monday afternoon.
