By Alan Carasso
French-born jockey Christophe-Patrice Lemaire rode four winners on Friday's year-ending program at Nakayama Racecourse to finish on 215 victories, breaking the previous record of 212 winners in a season set in 2005 by the legendary Yutaka Take.
Lemaire, who will turn 40 next May, had eight mounts on the card, each of which was well-backed, and he equaled Take's mark with a victory aboard favoured Schwarzwald (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}) in the day's fourth race, a 2-year-old maiden over 1800m. After just missing in the next on the program, Lemaire partnered with the white 2-year-old colt Maillot Blanc (Jpn) (Johannesburg) to post a 1 3/4-length success in a 1200-metre newcomers' test on the dirt to secure the record. For good measure, he added wins aboard even-money Red Anela (Jpn) (Casino Drive) in race eight and astride 32-5 shot Andes Queen (Jpn) (Turtle Bowl {Ire}) in the 10th. He guided Admire Justa (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}) to a runner-up effort in the G1 Hopeful S.
Lemaire rode at a 27.8% clip in 2018 and easily outdistanced Mirco Demuro to win the premiership. His mounts finished in the top three 58% of the time and also allowed Lemaire to post a single-season earnings mark of ¥4.66 billion (£33.3m/€36.9m/A$59.9m/US$42.2m). Lemaire's marquee mount was the 3-year-old filly Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), who provided the rider with a second G1 Japan Cup success in addition to a sweep of the Japanese Filly Triple Crown. He also piloted 2017 G1 Japanese Derby hero Rey de Oro (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) to win the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn).
WATCH: Maillot Blanc gives Christophe Lemaire his record-breaking 213th win of 2018
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
