SINGAPORE,  14 August 2007

Three new jockeys are set to make their riding debut at Kranji. Frenchman Eric Legrix and New Zealander Owen ‘Opie’ Bosson have both been granted six-month freelance licences by the Singapore Turf Club, while Australian-based Linda Meech was granted a three-month licence. All three commence their stint on September 1.

Legrix, 42, a winner of around 1,300 races including 90 at Group level, is one of France’s better-known jockeys, having come through the same batch of top riders like Gerald Mosse and Dominique Boeuf. He started riding in 1981 and was champion apprentice in 1982 and 1983, and was first runner-up in the French jockeys’ premiership three times. Legrix, however, made his name in Hong Kong where he rode with success between 1992 and 2003.

During his early days in the saddle back in France, Legrix enjoyed plenty of support from leading trainer Patrick Biancone, who provided him with his first Group 1 success aboard NEUSTRIEN in the 1984 Prix du Cadran.

He has since added many more feature wins to his tally, notably the 1985 Prix Vermeille with WALENSEE, 1988 Prix Lupin with EXACTLY SHARP and the 1991 Prix de Diane with CAERLINA. Legrix came close to claiming France’s Holy Grail, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, in 1985 when he was first past the winning post aboard SAGACE, but subsequently lost it to Pat Eddery’s RAINBOW QUEST in the stewards’ room due to interference.

A first major overseas win came his way in 1991 when he captured the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs aboard MISS ALLEGED.

The following year in Hong Kong, Legrix quickly established himself as one of the leading jockeys, going on to bag a total of 330 winners in 12 seasons. His biggest victories came in two Hong Kong Derbies — HELENE STAR (1993) and JOHAN CRUYFF (1998) — and the 2001 Hong Kong Champions’ Mile.

In 2003, Legrix returned to France where he has since been a riding force to reckon with. He even made a flying visit to Singapore in 2005 to ride SAMANDO (9th) for trainer Francois Doumen in the $3 million Singapore Airlines International Cup, won by MUMMIFY. This year, Legrix has plied his trade in Macau where he currently sits fifth on the jockeys’ log.

Bosson, 27, is one of the leading jockeys in New Zealand, having finished third behind Lisa Cropp and Chris Johnson at the just-concluded 2006/07 season with 116 winners. More notably, he boasted the highest strike rate (17.4%) among the Top 10 and was by far the most successful jockey in Group and Listed races with 14 wins, including the Group 1 Waikato Draught Sprint with DARCI BRAHMA.

A former three-time champion apprentice and one-time senior champion rider, Matamata-based Bosson has amassed an impressive tally of 82 races at Group and Listed level from his 776 wins, including New Zealand’s richest race the Group 1 Kelt Capital Stakes (now worth NZ$2 million) with DISTINCTLY SECRET in 2003, when it was worth only NZ$500,000.

Bosson rode as an apprentice in Singapore in May 1998, bagging three wins from 18 rides. He came back to ride as a senior jockey in March 2000 over two days during the inaugural Singapore Airlines International Cup weekend, but could only manage two placings. He has also twice represented his country at the World Super Jockey Series in Japan and has successfully ridden in Australia and Macau.

Meech, 26, who holds a dual New Zealand/Australian citizenship, has won around 500 races during her eight-year career. She is currently licensed by Racing New South Wales, after starting out in Victoria with leading country trainer Terry O’Sullivan. She then moved to Melbourne to complete her apprenticeship with top Caulfield trainer Peter Moody.

She chalked up over 100 wins as an apprentice, becoming the first female jockey to win the Victorian Country Apprenticeship in 2001. Meech was also leading Victorian Female Rider from 2001 to 2003, with a Group 3 and a Listed race featuring among her major achievements.

In 2004, Meech moved north to New South Wales, linking up with leading trainer Gai Waterhouse. She has since been her main provincial and country rider as well as for Warwick Farm trainer Guy Walter.

Meech has had a stellar season in 2007, finishing third on the overall Provincial ladder behind Grant Buckley (56) and Zac Purton (44), with 40 winners and 64 minor placings.

Both Legrix and Bosson weigh in at 54kgs while Meech goes to scale at 52kgs.