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French ace tipped for Unicorn hot seat

Olivier Doleuze is a hot favourite to take over as the regular rider of Electronic Unicorn when the top-rated miler makes his reappearance early next month.

The Frenchman, who returned to Hong Kong this week to begin a five-month stint as a Club jockey, teams up with Electronic Unicorn for the first time at barrier trials this morning in a clear sign that he is set to be offered the ride on a full-time basis.

Trainer John Size has yet to confirm riding arrangements for his stable star, but Doleuze is hopeful of replacing Shane Dye, who partnered Electronic Unicorn on his final start of last season.

'I am just riding Electronic Unicorn in a barrier trial this time, but I would love to ride him in races,' Doleuze said yesterday. 'When I came to Hong Kong last year for the first time, I was in the jockeys' room with Gerald Mosse and watched Electronic Unicorn run with Robbie Fradd as his rider. And I said to Gerald that I would love to be lucky enough to ride that horse one day. He is a very good, really exciting horse. I have had one ride for the owner and won for him, so you never know what can happen.'

A change of jockey was forced on Size last season when Robbie Fradd, the regular rider of Electronic Unicorn, was suspended indefinitely following his arrest in the high-profile race-fixing investigation. Dye came in for the ride when Electronic Unicorn finished a disappointing eighth in the 2,000-metre Hong Gold Cup, but Size would not be drawn last night on whether another change was likely.

'Yes, Olivier Doleuze is riding Electronic Unicorn in the trial but the final decision on who rides him in his races will naturally be with the owner,' the trainer said.

Size added that Electronic Unicorn is being aimed at the National Panasonic Cup on November 2 followed by the Chevalier Cup on November 24 en route to the Hong Kong Mile, his main target, on December 15. Electronic Unicorn won those two lead-up races under Fradd last season before finishing a fine second to Japanese star Eishin Preston in the Hong Kong Mile.

Doleuze has had only two rides for Size, with their sole victory together coming with Winning Dragon, who also runs in the colours of Electronic Unicorn's owner Lo Ying-bin.

The French rider, who made a sensational impact in his debut stint last season, has seven rides for his return at Sunday's Sha Tin Trophy meeting.

Doleuze interview - Page 10

TT & DT guide - Pages 8-9

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