Big Rock’s trainer backs French jockey Aurelien Lemaitre ahead of Lockinge at Newbury after criticism from punters
BIG ROCK’S trainer has backed under fire jockey Aurelien Lemaitre ahead of the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
The Frenchman has only had a handful of rides in Britain, but he has received heavy criticism for two of them.
His inexperience around Goodwood showed when he was turned over on odds-on shot Blue Rose Cen last summer.
And many punters hammered him for kicking for home a long way out in the 1000 Guineas on Ramatuelle, who went clear but was caught in the final strides.
Chantilly-based Maurizio Guarnieri told Sunracing: “Aurelien was criticised at Newmarket but he is a top jockey.
“It’s not easy riding at Newmarket on a fast filly who is probably best at seven furlongs, the mile there is very stiff as you know.
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“He knows Big Rock very well and the owner wants Aurelien to ride him, and that is okay with me.”
The pressure will be on Guarnieri at Newbury, too.
This is the first time he has run the world’s top-rated miler Big Rock, who bolted up in the QEII at Ascot in October, since he joined his yard – and the top-class Inspiral stands in his way.
Owner and Spanish pizza tycoon, Leopoldo Fernandez, shockingly removed all of his horses from Christoper Head’s stable and moved them to little-known Guarnieri.
But the Italian is an experienced trainer, saying: “It is a very exciting opportunity for us to have these quality horses.
“I am still getting to know him but I am learning more about him every day. He is a fantastic horse with great mental strength, but he never shows you anything at home.
“We gave him a gallop at Chantilly the other day and he only just finished in front of the other horse, but his jockey says it is normal for him.
“It is exciting heading to Newbury, I hope it doesn’t stop raining between now and the race.
“The horse is very well, he left for England this morning and will have an easy couple of days in Newbury.”