Frenchman set for Queensland riding journey

By Jordan Gerrans

Trainer Jack Bruce has no doubt Frenchman Damien Boche has what it takes to make an impact in the city riding ranks in the Sunshine State. 

The 26-year-old has been with the Bruce barn at Caloundra for the last three months and is set to follow the trainer into town when he takes over his Eagle Farm stables in the middle of December.

Boche was set to have his maiden rides in Queensland on Friday at Warwick before the meeting was washed out.

Bruce had handed his stable rider three engagements on the Allman Park program from Warwick. 

“I was keen for him to go to Warwick because the pressure will be off him and he can go out there and see how it all goes before I dish him up something in town on a Wednesday,” Bruce said.

“It would have been good for him to get acclimatized. 

“But, we will find something else for him soon with Warwick being off for Friday.”

While the Frenchman will need to wait for another day to have his first bookings in Queensland, the top local trainer says Boche has blown him away with his professionalism since he arrived. 

Bruce believes Boche’s grounding riding in plenty of trials and jump-outs recently will serve him well before he does officially kick-off in Queensland. 

“He is a phenomenal horse person and he has been a very good trial rider for me, before he could get his licence to ride in races,” Bruce said.

“He has shown an ability to adapt to the style of racing in South East Queensland when he has ridden in trials.

“I have had no hesitation to put him on race day and give him a chance.

“He has clearly been very well educated and knows his stuff.

“It has not taken long for him to understand how the racing works here.

“He was able to have the base of trial rides here before getting his licence here has been good for him and really helped him.”

The French rider has been in Australia for around a year, spending a period of time in Sydney with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott camp before heading north. 

“I was just a track rider down there for Gai in Sydney,” Boche said.

“It is better for me in Australia and I have more opportunities here at the Sunshine Coast, that is why I moved.”

Boche estimates he rode around 200 winners in France before relocating, which included competing in several Group 1 events.

He also rode in Germany in a Listed event.

“I wanted to try here,” Boche said.

Bruce pointed to his stable hoop’s experience at riding at major France tracks such as Deauville and Longchamp as a perfect lead-in to being competitive in Queensland.

With Bruce set to open his own Eagle Farm stables in December, Boche is set to follow his boss to Brisbane. 

The trainer says Boche is likely to be a well sought-after booking in South East Queensland once he builds some momentum. 

“He has a positive attitude and desire to succeed, which is very important,” Bruce said.

“He has been a genuine person and a welcome addition to my team. 

“I am sure he will make a welcome addition to the Queensland riding ranks when he finds his feet.”

The Bruce camp is set for a busy weekend with runners at Caloundra on Friday, the Gold Coast and Doomben on Saturday, before returning to the Sunshine Coast as well as having a Grafton runner south of the border on Sunday.