The racing experts said it couldn’t happen in the THE AMORETTO PLATE full of classy horses like Cape Horn, Shreya Star, Mount Fuji etc and ambitious trainers and jockeys.
The Champ de Mars world said a 79-1 longshot was a waste of money for the many thousands who stick a pin in the race card on horse number 4 or choose a horse because they just like the sound of the name Horn or Fuji.
But yesterday Saturday 19th August 2017, French Jockey Cedric Segeon has proved he is by far the most experienced jockey currently riding in Mauritius by causing the biggest upset to date this year with the newcomer Major Jay. Since the weather conditions was degrading before the race he requested his trainer Jean Michel Henry to advise the stewards about an all way wide tactic to avoid any issues if he didn’t succeed with his plan.
Once gate number 7 opened he took his horse, Major Jay four wide to get a better ground which surprised many racegoers present who according to Cedric were screaming at him that he wasn’t trying to succeed.
But Cedric wasn’t bothered as he knew what he was up to and kept going on the outside of “Aspara” wide who was leading the race.
Major Jay a two times winner (1400 & 2000) in South Africa had plenty of gas turning into the final straight, having ran on long distances in the past.
While the crack jockey Steven Arnold decided to take the slippery inside with the hot favourite Cape Horn, Cedric Segeon the living dictionary of the Champ de Mars track, battled in the middle of the track vigorously to win by 0.2 lengths causing the biggest upset to date this year.
Those who have been following Cedric Segeon rides closely in recent years must have remembered lately in Bangalore, India on Dec 3, 2016 the French Jockey bagged four wins during a heavily rain meeting.
As if when it rains … there are always blessings from the sky pouring on him.
JAY HO ! “Let victory prevail”
