FRENCH star Eric Saint-Martin rode a table-topping treble on Ladies' Day at Sha Tin yesterday and reflected on the difference a year has made to his professional life.
Saint-Martin, who has never lacked talent and is hugely impressive when at his best, rode flawlessly to score on Rugby Supreme in the third event, rejuvenated Basketball Leader in the following race and then conjured up a win out of enigmatic one-time Derby winner, Super Fit, in race six.
The Arc-winning jockey is now retained by Tony Cruz and the partnership has enjoyed an excellent start to the new campaign.
A year ago Saint-Martin, then retained by David Oughton, was back in Paris sitting out a lengthy suspension - and it wasn't the first ban he had copped from Hong Kong stewards.
After coming close to a four-timer when King Of Flash was beaten a short head in the final event, Saint-Martin said: 'I thought about a lot of things when I was suspended for so long last season.
'I knew then that I had to be not so demanding of myself although I still needed and had the desire to win. It is also maturity, I think it is easier to put it down that way.