The Japan Racing Association (JRA) announced that a short-term riding jockey's license has been issued to French jockeys Olivier Peslier and Christophe Lemaire.
The short-term riding license for both jockeys is effective from November 1 to December 28, 2008.
Olivier, 35, will be primarily riding for owner Danox Co. Ltd. and host trainer Yasutoshi Ikee of JRA Ritto Training Center, while Lemaire will be riding for owner Teruya Yoshida and host trainer Kojiro Hashiguchi of JRA Ritto Training Center.
Peslier, who first rode in Japan in 1994, has won 366 races in 2,187 starts, winning six straight Grade 1 titles from 2000. Peslier has not won a Japanese G1 race for the last two years, his last major victory coming at the Mile Championship aboard Hat Trick in November 2005.
Lemaire may not have Peslier's experience, but has shown his potential. Debuting in Japan in 2002, the 29-year-old Lemaire has enjoyed his share of success, winning 107 times in 965 rides. He shocked the Japanese horse racing world in 2005, defeating fan-favorite and unbeaten Deep Impact at the Arima Kinen aboard Heart's Cry. The two went on to win the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March 2006.
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