Christophe Lemaire paused for a moment at morning trackwork, greeting well-wishers with the quiet smile of a rider who knows exactly what lies ahead. His return to the LONGINES IJC after seven years carries a flicker of nostalgia, but also a clear sense of unfinished business. “It’s always special,” he said, tapping the neck of his mount before dismounting, as fans lining the rail called his name.
The Frenchman arrives in Hong Kong on the back of a blistering season in Japan, where his 119 wins have him locked in a fierce battle with Keita Tosaki. Though level on victories, Lemaire sits narrowly behind on countback, a detail he shrugs off with typical calm. What matters now is the global stage — and the chance to reproduce that red-hot form at Happy Valley on 10 December.
Lemaire Returns to LONGINES IJC With Renewed Purpose
The 46-year-old will represent Japan in the championship for the seventh time, having first lifted the title in 2009 in a memorable three-way tie with Ryan Moore and Johnny Murtagh. He had finished runner-up the year before — an early hint of the bond he has built with the tight, floodlit Valley circuit.
“Riding at Happy Valley pushes you to produce your best,” he said. “It’s an iconic place and a real challenge every time.”
That mindset has driven a remarkable November for Lemaire. His victory aboard Diamond Knot in the G2 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes followed swiftly after his JPN G1 JBC Classic win with Mikki Fight and a superb sixth triumph in the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn on Masquerade Ball. Few jockeys arrive at the IJC in better shape or with greater momentum.
From Fabre’s Apprentice to Japan’s Champion
Lemaire’s story is well documented but no less extraordinary for it. After turning professional in 1999 under the guidance of Andre Fabre, he made his first impact in Japan in 2002 with 15 winners on a short-term licence. Three years later, he delivered a landmark moment by defeating Deep Impact in the G1 Arima Kinen aboard Heart’s Cry — a result that stunned Japan and planted the seeds of a future built far from home.
Group 1 victories soon followed across the world, including the Dubai Sheema Classic and Hong Kong Cup with Pride in 2006. But 2015 marked the true turning point: Lemaire passed the Japan Racing Association’s full-time licence exam, becoming one of the first non-Japanese jockeys admitted on a permanent basis. With his family, he moved to Kyoto and began the phase of his career that would redefine modern Japanese racing.
Records, Icons and a Legacy Still Growing
Seven JRA Leading Jockey titles, a record-breaking 215 wins in a single season (surpassing Yutaka Take’s long-standing mark), and eight winners in one afternoon — Lemaire’s milestones read like a compressed history of modern riding excellence. Just as notable are the champions he has partnered: Almond Eye, the dual JRA Horse of the Year and Triple Tiara heroine; and Equinox, crowned the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse in 2023.
Yet the man remains modest, even playful. His expanding fashion project, C L by C, recently opened its flagship store and café in Kyoto. At the ribbon-cutting, Yutaka Take laughed: “He keeps winning everything — it’s getting annoying,” before acknowledging Lemaire’s impact on racing culture and his commitment to the sport beyond the saddle.
For Lemaire, the IJC offers a fresh test and a welcome return. “It’s a pleasure to be part of such an incredible line-up and to represent Japan,” he said. “This is where you want to be at this time of year.”
As Happy Valley prepares for another electric December night, one of racing’s most admired figures arrives with confidence, form — and something to prove.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to racebuzz.
