Legendary French jockey Olivier Peslier, who punters nicknamed ‘Blue Samurai’, to retire this week at 53
LEGEND of the saddle Olivier Peslier will hang up his boots later this week after an incredible 35-year career.
The Frenchman banged home 3,700 winners around the world, a whopping 165 of them at Group 1 level.
He will take his final two mounts at La Teste racecourse near Bordeaux on Thursday before saying au revoir to his riding career.
Peslier, 53, was the go-to man in big Group 1 races around the world in his pomp in the late 90's and early 2000's.
He famously picked up the ride late in the day on High-Rise in the 1998 Derby - before steering him home by a head at odds of 20-1.
He also rode the 2000 Guineas winner Cockney Rebel and had plenty of success over the years at Royal Ascot, including on the wondermare Goldikova in the 2010 Queen Anne Stakes.
OFFERS OF THE DAY
Betfred: Get £50 in free bets - CLAIM HERE
BetMGM: Get £60 in free bets - CLAIM HERE
Tote: Get £30 in free bets + 50 free spins - CLAIM HERE
William Hill: Get £40 in free bets (mobile only) - CLAIM HERE
Betfred: *New customers only. 09:00 on 08/03/24 – 17:30 on 15/03/24. Register with CHELT50. First bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports which settles before 23:59 on 15/03/24. Free Bets: £20 Horse Racing, £20 Football Acca & 50 x £0.20 (£10) Free Spins on Fishin’ Frenzy within 10 hours. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply. Full T&Cs apply.
BetMGM: New customers only. 7 days to place a qualifying bet to receive 6 x Free Bets: 4 x £10 Horse racing, 2 x £10 Acca Free Bets. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply. 18+ begambleaware.org
Tote: New customers online only. £10 min stake (if EW then min £10 Win + £10 Place). Receive £30 Tote Credit + 50 Free Spins on selected game within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. Tote credit subject to 7-day expiry. Free spins subject to 7-day expiry. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool bet added to the bet-slip. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleaware.org. Full T&Cs apply.
William Hill: 18+. Play Safe. When you sign-up via Mobile using promo code P40 and place a bet of £10 or more we will give you 4x £10 free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. begambleaware.org
And he famously rode an Ascot winner for the late Queen in 2017, steering home Dartmouth in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes.
In his home country he bagged four Arc de Triomphe's, riding the winner of the historic race for three straight years between 1996 and 1998 when he was one of the most feared riders in the world.
He is great pals with Frankie Dettori, who put off his own retirement last year to continue his career in California.
Both men were two of the first true international jockeys and he was a punters pal wherever he went - including in Britain.
Most read in Horse Racing
He was so beloved by punters in Japan they nicknamed him the 'blue samurai'.
One fan said on X, formerly Twitter: "One of the absolute elite riders. Farewell Olivier and good luck!"
Another punter said: "What a great jockey, I will always remember his relationship with Goldikova. Happy retirement."
While another, apparently having a dig at Dettori, posted: "A much more dignified way to end ones career than inflicting endless retirement saga nonsense on us, as his Italian friend did last year."
Confirming his decision to pack in his riding career to the Racing Post, Peslier said: "I have earned more than 3,700 victories around the world, 502 Group race wins of which 165 were Group 1s including those in Arabian races.
"Like everyone, my turn has arrived. I’m a tiny bit younger than Dettori and I’ll be stopping just before him.
"It’s been an extraordinary career and I would hope I can say it’s been an exemplary one.
"I’ve had some wonderful moments in Britain, at Royal Ascot and winning the Derby. I also had a great deal of success in Japan and winning the Japan Cup was wonderful.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
“I’ll be staying in and around the sport but I’ll wait a while to see exactly how that plays out.
"My career has been marked by some great moments of joy."
FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chases their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org