There will never be another Olivier Peslier; modern racing simply wouldn't produce one

Was there ever a man more at home on the back of a horse than Olivier Peslier? A natural rider who does most things by feeling, he is a supreme stylist, though plenty of trainers would warn an apprentice against trying to copy his languid body language in the saddle.
As his glittering career comes to a close, it is instructive to see how Peslier has ridden out the waves of fashion in French and international racing across eras which have demanded that jockeys look the opposite of effortless.
France still reserves the best rides for those with a prized contract for a major owner. Without such backing since the end of 2014, Peslier has still racked up 12 thoroughbred Group 1 victories, starting with Charm Spirit in the QEII Stakes just two days after the news broke that he would be replaced as the Wertheimers' first jockey.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inAnother View
Last updated
- The Cheltenham Festival needs another fairytale - so who could be this year's Coneygree or Norton's Coin?
- £100,000 bonus pots add an extra layer of intrigue to the pre-Cheltenham debate
- In appreciation of the remarkable Luke Morris and his impending Wolverhampton 500
- Paul Nicholls faces a big challenge if he's to win another title - but you can bet he'll be up for it
- Blind ignorance is a hard engine to stop - and that's what racing is up against in the gambling debate
- The Cheltenham Festival needs another fairytale - so who could be this year's Coneygree or Norton's Coin?
- £100,000 bonus pots add an extra layer of intrigue to the pre-Cheltenham debate
- In appreciation of the remarkable Luke Morris and his impending Wolverhampton 500
- Paul Nicholls faces a big challenge if he's to win another title - but you can bet he'll be up for it
- Blind ignorance is a hard engine to stop - and that's what racing is up against in the gambling debate