FRIDAY: July 9, 2021: LIGHTLY-RACED Hawkesbury three-year-old Lemaire was on the straight and narrow at Goulburn today – and what a difference it made!
Temporarily barred by RacingNSW stewards when he was on his worst behaviour at Moruya on June 25, Lemaire ($6), with the addition of blinkers, never put a hoof wrong in trouncing his rivals by nearly three lengths in the Class 1 Handicap (1400m).
With Winona Costin aboard, star French jockey Christophe Lemaire’s equine namesake left his opposition in his wake, defeating Morgenstern ($5.50) and Clem Fandango ($11).
After the son of Zariz had not raced truly in the straight when fourth at Moruya, stewards ordered trainers Tara and Philippe Vigouroux to trial him to their satisfaction before permitting him to resume his racing career.
That was achieved at Gosford only four days ago when he ran third to the smart Trumbull in a 1000m barrier trial, and he carried that form over to Goulburn.
“We’re very excited about his future,” Tara Vigouroux said this evening. “He is giving us something to look forward to.
“There’s no doubt he will be an even better horse next preparation as he matures.
“When Lemaire came to us on lease from Kooringal Stud near Wagga, you would never have thought he might make a racehorse.
“He is so laidback and drags his feet around the stable, but is popular because of his casual demeanour.
“He surprised us with his manners at Moruya, but obviously the blinkers have made such a difference and it was good to see him perform so well today.”
Winona Costin has been aboard Lemaire in his two wins so far, and rode runner-up Morgenstern when he was placed at Taree at his previous start.
It’s been another good year for Team Vigouroux with eight wins, giving the husband and wife training partnership 35 successes in the last three seasons.
“We had hoped to get a few more winners, but have been plagued by seconds,” Tara Vigouroux said.
. Lemaire is the second foal of the now deceased Testa Rossa mare Testalina, a three-times winner on NSW country tracks.
Her first foal, a colt by The Brothers War, sadly died after being born.
Kooringal’s resident stallion, Lemaire’s sire Zariz, died suddenly in October, 2018 at 21 years of age.
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