Garnet Bougoure

Born in Brisbane, Australia, on March 3, 1923, Garnet 'Garnie' Bougoure was one of a group of pioneering Australian jockeys who made a big impact on European racing in the 1950s and 1960s.

After starting his career in his native country, where he served his apprenticeship with his father,  Bougoure rode in India, Singapore and France before moving to Ireland in the late 1950s where he rode successfully for Vincent O'Brien and later Paddy Prendergast.

He lived at Ard na Griene, Clonmel, Co Tipperary and became the first and only Australian to be champion jockey in Ireland, a feat he achieved in 1960.

He rode Barclay, trained by O'Brien, to victory in the 1959 Irish St Leger and also landed the Irish 2,000 Guineas for Ballydoyle on Light Year and Chamour.

Bougoure's successful association with Prendergast reached its zenith in 1963 when he won the Irish Derby and St Leger at Doncaster on Ragusa,  the Oaks at Epsom on Noblesse and the Irish St Leger on Christmas Island.

He also won the 1964 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Pourparler, trained by Prendergast for whom he also enjoyed major successes on Khalkis, Prominer, Hardicanute, Linacre and Patto among others.

 Noblesse, one of the most impressive winners of the Oaks, won the Classic by ten lengths and Bougoure was afterwards quoted as saying it could have been 20 lengths.

After his stint in Ireland he returned to Singapore where he rode until 1969 and then trained until 1995 when he retired and returned to live close to his family in the Melbourne area.

On September 9th, 1946, he married Magaret Moore. She gave him three daughters, Cheryl Grace, Kerryn Elsee & Deborah Iris.

Away from the course, he enjoyed a round of golf.

His first ever winner was Lorna D at Toowoomba, Queensland.

He died, aged 85, on November 22, 2008.

Classic winners:

Oaks: Noblesse (1963)

One Thousand Guineas: Pourparler (1964)

St Leger: Ragusa (1964)

Other big wins:

1960:  Irish Derby - Chamour

1962:  Timeform Gold Cup - Noblesse

1962:  Ribblesdale Stakes - Tender Annie

1962:  Coronation Stakes - Display

1963:  Irish Derby – Ragusa

1963:  Eclipse Stakes - Khalkis

1963:  King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes - Ragusa

1963:  Great Voltigeur Stakes - Ragusa

1963: Prix Monrny - Revoquee

1963: Irish St Leger - Christmas Island 

1964:  Champagne Stakes - Hardicanute

1964:  Eclipse Stakes - Ragusa