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By Ray Hickson

Fresh off the plane from Dubai and at his first visit to Randwick, jockey Christophe Lemaire was quick to extol the virtues of Rousham Park as a live contender in Saturday’s Group 1 $5m Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

Jockey Christophe Lemaire at Randwick to ride Rousham Park on Saturday.

He acknowledges the task the Japanese visitor has to topple the likes of Via Sistina and Dubai Honour, especially after being handed a wide barrier, but he’s adamant he’s also riding a world class horse.

Rousham Park has won six of his 16 starts and while his last win was 18 months ago, with Lemaire on board, he has Group 1 seconds at Hanshin and in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar in 2024 and the French born jockey says he’s an adaptable type.

“He’s a very consistent and genuine horse, he’s got a long acceleration,’’ the 45-year-old said.

“He’s more comfortable over a mile and a quarter than a mile and a half. He travels very well.

“He’s not very quick out of the gates so he’ll usually race from middle of the pack or the back of the field. He grabs the bit and travels very easily and has that long acceleration.

“I think he can adapt himself anywhere. We have to be very confident with him.”

That comment about the six-year-old’s tardiness early is behind Lemaire, who has won four Japan Cups among a long list of feature wins in Japan, suggesting barrier 12 isn’t a major hurdle.

He was a $17 chance with TAB on Tuesday following the draw.

“I’m quite happy with that outside draw because he’s got a big stride, he likes to have some space to accelerate, and from the middle of the pace on the outside I’m sure he can show his class,’’ he said.

“It will be more difficult for Rousham Park compared to the horses based here but he’s a Group 1 level horse and I think it is a nice opportunity to perform abroad again like he did at Del Mar.”

Rousham Park and Geoglyph, who backs up from the Doncaster Mile, will be the first Japanese runners in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes since Unicorn Lion ran fifth in 2023, Danon Premium ran third in Addeybb’s 2020 win, while Kluger finished second to Winx in her farewell a year earlier.

Tom Marquand rode Rousham Park in his latest start, a seventh in the Arima Kinen (2500m) on December 22, while Lemaire said his previous effort at Del Mar is more an indication of what he’s capable of.

“He was drawn one and was slow out of the gates, in America the pace is quick so we were soon at the back of the field,’’ he said.

“He was very keen during the race. We started to make the move from the last corner and we had to come around because he has a big stride, and Del Mar is a tight racecourse.

“He reacted very well and we finished second, very close to Rebel’s Romance which was the Dubai Sheema Classic winner last year and a very good horse from Godolphin.”

El trotamundos REBEL'S ROMANCE 🇮🇪 hijo de DUBAWI, repite en los 12F de la Turf G1 en Del Mar.

Es su 7° G1 en 4 países distintos y 2° en USA.

9° triunfo para William Buick y 11° para Charlie Appleby.
20 para Godolphin en Breeders' Cup.

2° ROUSHAM PARK 🇯🇵
📽️ @RacingTV pic.twitter.com/C0QQuj4Sd6

— Luis E. Caraballo G. (@luis_ernestocg) November 2, 2024

Rousham Park runs second in the Breeders' Cup Turf (Video: Racing TV on X)

While it’ll be the first time Lemaire has ridden at Randwick he says that’s something that doesn’t intimidate him, and the one trophy he has from Australia is proof to him of that.

“I’ll study the field, try to feel the atmosphere and I’m really excited about riding here,’’ he said.

“For my first rides (at a track) I’ve had some winners so I’m not scared about riding here for the first time. I have a very good souvenir here in Australia winning the Melbourne Cup on Dunaden.”

All the fields, form and replays for Day 2 of The Star Championships at Randwick