nanako fujita | Horse Racing Free Tips

One of Europe's elite riders, Pierre-Charles Boudot, is the sixth participant to be confirmed for The Saudi Cup's International Jockeys' Challenge (IJC) on Friday, Feb. 19 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.

The Frenchman, who rode 12 Group 1 winners in 2020, including on Champions Day at Royal Ascot and the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, is the second of seven male jockeys to be announced, while Nanako Fujita of Japan will fill the fifth of seven spots for female riders.

He said: “I'm very excited to be competing in the International Jockeys' Challenge this year. Being asked to come and ride against the world's best feels like a great achievement and I'm very proud.

“2020 was a crazy and incredible year for me. I picked up some extra rides due to Covid and I ended up with 12 Group 1 winners, including three for Coolmore, two at the Breeders' Cup and one at Ascot on Champions Day too.”

The 28-year-old was not involved in last year's IJC but did ride in two races on The Saudi Cup undercard on the Saturday, finishing fourth on the Fabrice Chappet-trained Intellogent in the Middle Distance Turf Cup and fourth on Ala Sawab in The Jockey Club Local Handicap.

Remembering the day in 2020, Boudot said: “I rode on Saudi Cup day last year and it was a great experience. The turf was perfect and the dirt is possibly the best in the world.”

The Frenchman has been busy riding winners in France already this year and is set to arrive at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in good form, though Europe's premier Flat race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe which takes place in October, will again be his top target.

“This year, I would like to begin with a nice winner at the Saudi races and then I hope to find myself another good horse for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. I have been riding in France this month and things are going well. I've got a very good strike rate at the moment, with 17 winners from 40 runners, so I feel in good form and I'm ready to go.”

Popular Japanese rider Fujita was set to line up in last year's International Jockeys' Challenge but suffered a broken collarbone a fortnight before while riding in Japan.

The exciting 23-year-old jockey is looking forward to the prospect of taking her chance this year: “I would like to thank the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia for selecting me as one of the participants at the International Jockeys' Challenge.

“It is a great honor for me, and I am excited to receive the invitation. I look forward to riding together with world-renowned top riders in Saudi Arabia”.

This year's International Jockeys' Challenge will take place on Friday, Feb. 19 – the day before the $20 million Saudi Cup. Jockeys will be made up of seven international women, two local men and five international men. The prize money in each of the four races will be $400,000 and there is a $100,000 prize pot for the Jockeys' Challenge with $30,000 going to the winner.

Half of the 14 riders have now been confirmed:

Sibylle Vogt, 25, (SWI)

Jorge Ricardo, 59 (BRA)

Jessica Marcialis, 30 (ITA)

Maria Lujan Asconiga, 27 (ARG)

Nieves Garcia, 43 (SPA)

Pierre-Charles Boudot, 28 (FRA)

Nanako Fujita, 23 (JPN)

The post Pierre-Charles Boudot Confirmed For Saudi Cup’s International Jockeys’ Challenge appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

French riding sensation Mickaelle Michel's chances of riding regularly on Japan's premier circuit have received a major boost after the strict qualifying criteria for short-term licenses were relaxed.

At the end of the summer, Michel plans to return to the Far East to sit the first part of the JRA license course for a permanent license.

She was a massive hit in Japan earlier this year when she set a new record of wins by a visiting jockey on a short-term license on the second-tier National Association of Racing.

Japan now wants to encourage more elite women jockeys like her to participate in its racing and this week announced a different set of eligibility rules to those for men, who must either be champions of their country or winners of G1 races like the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, for a short-term license.

“It's fantastic news,” said Michel's partner and agent Frederic Spanu. “It means Mickaelle can make an application for the JRA short-term license. She is so happy and excited.

“But she will also take the test for a permanent JRA license on September 29 – if obviously we can get on the plane.”

To qualify, jockeys from the UK and France must be the leading female in their country in either of the last two seasons, have ridden more than ten winners and ranked in the top 50 for prize-money, or ridden a G1 winner. There are similar criteria for riders from the USA, Canada, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Hong Kong and New Zealand. Only five short-term licenses will be granted at any one time.

In Japan, Nanako Fujita is the only female jockey riding the JRA circuit but more females are entering the jockey school and the governing body wants more role models for them.

A spokesman for the JRA said: “The purpose of this rule introduction is to create a better open environment for more female jockeys to take part in our races.

“We currently have a number of female students at our racing school. By introducing a separate criteria for overseas female jockeys to ride in Japan, we hope that the best female jockeys will be able to get a short-term licence and hopefully be great role models for the females in Japan and influence them to become a jockey as well as having a positive impact in the Japanese horse racing industry.”

Michel was sponsored by the powerful Shadai Farm on her last trip to Japan where visiting jockeys must also find an owner and trainer to support them.

She will also need coronavirus restrictions to be lifted as Japan is currently not allowing foreigners into the country due to COVID-19.

This article was reprinted with permission from Horse Racing Planet. You can find more of their content here.

The post Japan Relaxes Strict Criteria For Short-Term Jockey Licenses In Hopes Of Drawing Female Riders appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post