Saturday, 15 September 2018: With Olivier Placais suspended, Jupiter Gold will have another French jockey on top in the $1 million Group 1 Raffles Cup (1600m) next Sunday – Marc Lerner.

Jupiter Gold winning the KRANJI STAKES A

If some might 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 (1800m) 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 run over 1800m) of the Singapore Triple Crown series.



Lerner being Placais’ fellow countryman was just Gallic coincidence.



“When Olivier appealed against his suspension (on Super Win) last week, I had to start looking around in case he doesn’t win,” said Takaoka.



“There weren’t many jockeys left as most had already been booked, not to mention there are quite a few suspended. Marc was the new jockey who just arrived and he was the only one left.



“After Olivier lost his appeal, I approached Marc by myself – not Olivier even though they’re both French - and he said okay.”



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, riding a second on longshot Moritz Eclipse as his best result in five rides, but Takaoka is willing to take a chance on him.



“I saw him ride last night. He’s not as vigorous as Olivier, he’s softer, more your typical patient European rider,” he said.



“I heard he won a Group 2 race over 2400m 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 (2000m) on the same day, but it all depends what weight she gets.”



Lerner, who goes to scale at 53kgs, was delighted such a plum ride has 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.



“I also galloped Makanani this morning. Mr Takaoka said he would give me three other rides next week.”



Takaoka said that Jupiter Gold has pulled up a treat after his last win under Placais in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m 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 1800m at her last start.



“Both Jupiter Gold and Makanani are doing well,” he said.



“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.”



While things are looking up for Lerner so early, he had mixed feelings about his first meeting in Singapore, especially aboard Moritz Eclipse, the $337 chance who made his heart skip a beat when he loomed as a possible major upset behind former smart juvenile Lim’s Lightning in the Class 3 Division 1 race over 1200m, only to settle for the runner-up spot.



Unfortunately, the Steven Burridge-trained galloper also earned Lerner an early call-up in the Stewards’ room. They took exception to him allowing his mount to shift out at the 300m when insufficiently unclear of Yaya Papaya, causing the latter to check. He was handed a two-day ban.



“My first meeting went well, considering I didn’t have top chances,” said Lerner.



“Of the five rides, Super Six ran well and will improve next time out. I was surprised with Moritz Eclipse’s turn of foot, but the winner was too good.



“Unfortunately, he also made me meet the Stewards for the first time! They gave me two days, but fortunately, I will be able to ride at the Raffles Cup meeting (deferment).



“One thing I’ve also learned about racing here is you have to ride your horses a little more aggressive than what I’m used to in Germany, but it should be okay next week.”