Christophe Lemaire strikes on Fierement in dramatic St Leger

There was a dramatic climax to the Kikuka Sho – the Japanese St Leger – on Sunday, when the lightly raced Fierement got the better of Etario in a photo-finish.

Ridden by Frenchman Christophe Lemaire, who was partnering his 19th Group 1 winner in Japan, the three-year-old broke smoothly and settled in midfield before challenging long-time leader Etario in the home straight and winning on the line.

Lemaire said: “I had confidence in him as he felt good during training.

"We briefly met traffic in the straight but my mount stretched really well with his bursting kick. I congratulated Mirco [Demuro, Etario's rider] right after crossing the wire, thinking that we had lost, so it’s unbelievable that we were able to win the race.”

The Deep Impact colt only made his debut in January before finishing second in the Group 3 Radio Nikkei Sho in July.

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