French jockey Christophe Lemaire to ride Japan’s Rousham Park in 2025 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick

Globetrotting jockey Christophe Lemaire only needed a couple of minutes with Japanese raider Rousham Park to know he’s ready to be a key player in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Globetrotting jockey Christophe Lemaire only needed a couple of minutes with Japanese raider Rousham Park to know he’s ready to be a key player in Saturday’s Group 1 $5m Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick.

Lemaire arrived in Sydney on Tuesday as he prepares to ride in the Harbour City for the first time on day two of The Championships.

He made the trip out to Canterbury Park on Wednesday morning to put Rousham Park through his paces with some gate practice and a six furlong piece of work.

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“I was very happy with the horse because he was very focused on what he had to do,” Lemaire said.

“He jumped very well from the gates and all the way around he was very concerned on his work.

“I thought he was very dynamic and had good footwork.

“I was happy with his last two furlongs, he improved the pace very well and finished on the bridle stretching out very well so I was pleased with his work.

Cristophe Lemaire gets a feel for Rousham Park during trackwork at Canterbury ahead of Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Picture: Justin Lloyd

• Clinton Payne’s 2025 Queen Elizabeth Stakes tips, runner-by-runner form analysis

“He’s a very decent horse, very consistent and has good form.

“For sure he is a Group 1 level.

“I don’t know much about the Australian form but what he’s done over the past few races, I think he can perform very well here.”

Lemaire bases himself in Japan and has ridden Rousham Park to stakes victories in the Land of the Rising Sun.

He was last aboard the son of Harbinger when he finished a close second to Rebel’s Romance in the Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar last November.

Latest from @HTanaka_stable on ROUSHAM PARK’s preparation for Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes, a #WorldPool event.

🎦 @SkyRacingAU | #ローシャムパークpic.twitter.com/M0vEVgAhYf

— World Pool (@WorldPool) April 9, 2025

• EXPERT TIPS: Professional punter James Molony’s race-by-race tips and analysis for Randwick on Saturday

Lemaire, best known in Australia for winning the 2011 Melbourne Cup on Dunaden, will only have one ride on day two of The Championships but it’s on the biggest stage.

Rousham Park is one of two Japanese gallopers in this week’s main event with the six-year-old rated a $15 contender as Via Sistina holds $1.85 favouritism.

Originally published as French jockey Christophe Lemaire to ride Japan’s Rousham Park in 2025 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick