French champion jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot has made his riding comeback after a three-year enforced absence.
The 32-year-old Boudot is a two-time Flat champion of France who as main jockey to Andre Fabre rode Waldgeist to victory in the 2019 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, defeating the great Enable. In 2021 Boudot was arrested by police following an allegation of rape of a work rider and a judicial investigation opened.
He was subsequently suspended from riding indefinitely by France-Galop at the request of France’s Ministry of Interior.
A spokesperson for the Ministry’s Central Service of Racing and Gaming said at the time: “As always, we try to determine in what way the public good, the sincerity and morality of racing would be impacted if a jockey linked to a moral affair in racing shows up at the start of a race.
“The Central Service of racing and gaming has asked that the environment and the seriousness of the facts of which Pierre-Charles is accused be taken into account on the administrative level.
“This withdrawal [of his licence] is not final. On the one hand, his lawyer will be able to appeal. It will also be possible for him to reapply for approval.”
During his suspension Boudot spent a short period riding out for Aidan O’Brien at Ballydoyle.
In August last year, with the case having not proceeded to court, he told the Sun he was hoping to hear that he could resume riding in 2024.
Boudot made a surprise return to the saddle in Doha, Qatar during the first day of the Emir’s Sword Festival after an extraordinary start to the meeting where a number of top European jockeys including Britain’s Oisin Murphy, Jim Crowley and James Doyle were in action on a card of Purebred Arabian and thoroughbred races.
According to broadcaster Nick Luck, international riders were “refusing to ride after multiple horses slip in Race 1.”
Racing resumed three hours later with a number of riding changes, which included Boudot on four mounts. Boudot went on to ride the winner of Race 6, his first success since May 2021.
France Galop said: “Pierre-Charles Boudot is not allowed to ride in France in accordance with a request from the Ministry of Interior.”
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