Doleuze's daring move on Ensemble pays off

Faced with drawing in a seemingly terrible position for a 1,000m straight race at Sha Tin in barrier three, in-form jockey Olivier Doleuze executed a daring plan to perfection when he fired the John Size-trained Ensemble out of the starting gates and straight to the front.

After crossing the field to find the grandstand rail, Doleuze was able to gain a key advantage in the run and use his trademark athleticism in a tight three-way finish - Ensemble holding off short-priced favourite Bundle Of Joy and Roman Legend under a desperate ride.

"When I did the speed map I didn't think there was a fast pace, and when I met John for the instructions he said 'Ollie, just go and don't look back' - so I was happy," Doleuze said. "I made sure he jumped well and he just flew at the start - I had time to cross."

Doleuze said that Ensemble's fitness edge gained from a first-up second at Happy Valley might have made the difference against David Hall's Bundle Of Joy - which was sent out 1.5 favourite, but had not raced since early June.

"Fitness in the 1,000m races is important here because of the sustained speed they go, maybe it was key," Doleuze said.

Size has utilised Doleuze early this term, and it was the first win by the Frenchman for the Australian handler since June 2011.

Doleuze later brought up a double with victory in the day's feature race aboard Gold-Fun and won the Jockey Challenge with 36 points.

He now has five wins for the term to trail jockeys' championship leader Douglas Whyte by three.

Size joked that the surprise ploy to bounce out of the gates and make a play for the lead from the "wide" gate was "a cunning stunt to go forward".