LEMARIE HOPING TO TAKE "FLIGHT" AT ROYAL RANDWICK
But the Hawkesbury trainer, who has only three horses in work, is understandably excited to have his first Group 1 runner at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Lemarie will be represented by $6000 yearling buy Parisest Magic (Paris Is Magic) in the $750,000 Flight Stakes (1600m) for three-year-old fillies, and Rachel King rides.
The daughter of Redoute’s Choice stallion Prague is the $151 outsider in the field of seven, and French expat Lemarie isn’t underestimating the task she faces as one of two fillies who haven’t yet won a race.
However, he has had a plan in the back of his mind to tackle the Flight with a so far inexperienced filly of three starts as a test for another possible Group 1 tilt later in spring in the south.
Parisest Magic was actually sold for $9000 when offered at last year’s Inglis Classic yearling sale.
However, her elderly buyer, who had intended for Lemarie to train her, unfortunately took ill not long afterwards and put her on the market.
‘My father Michel bought her online for $6000,” Lemarie said today.
“I gave her two runs as a two-year-old.
“She went enormous on debut when third over 1200m at Gosford at $71 in May on a good track, then didn’t relish the heavy ground a few weeks later at Rosehill Gardens.
“I put her away after that with the Flight Stakes in mind, and hopefully the forecast rain doesn’t eventuate.”
Parisest Magic resumed at her home track on September 10, with King aboard, when she ran on from last at the 800m to finish fourth in a 1300m Maiden.
“I am fully aware it is going to be tough on Saturday, but I believe she is a black type filly,” Lemarie said.
“There is no pressure at all because we are the rank outsider.
“Hopefully some of the other fillies won’t manage the ‘mile’, and I’m confident my filly will.”
Lemarie will be guided by jockey King’s post-race assessment whether to press ahead to the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 5.
“That’s the long-range plan this spring, but I will seek Rachel’s advice as to how she feels Parisest Magic would handle the Oaks distance at this stage of her career,” he said.
Lemarie worked with fellow Hawkesbury trainer Edward Cummings until a few years ago, and was closely associated with now retired triple Group 1 winner Duais.
‘I rode Duais in her work, and took her to Queensland when she won the Oaks at Eagle Farm in 2021,” he said.
“Apart from wanting to train in my own right, my wife and I also were busy with our spelling farm just outside of Richmond.
“We have 50 acres, and it’s going well.
“There’s definitely more horses there than I have to train.”
Lemarie recently sold his three times provincial winner Show County – who was his first winner, at the Wyong Cup meeting in September 2024 - to a Wagga stable, believing a change of scenery will benefit the now six-year-old gelding.
Going to headquarters on Saturday will be quite a change of scenery for Parisest Magic’s trainer as well.
He has been to the bush recently with the filly’s stablemate Showmara, who won at Mudgee on August 30 and finished second at Nowra last Sunday week.
Lemarie will take it all in his stride nonetheless.
“Dad won’t be at Randwick on Saturday, but will of course be watching the race in France,” he said.
“He might come out later in the year.”
No doubt especially if Parisest Magic runs well in the Flight, and lines up in the Oaks at Flemington!
