Racing: Hurdles for Peslier

OLIVIER PESLIER, the leading French jockey, has his first ride over hurdles on Sunday. Peslier, whose big-race wins on the Flat this year included the Derby on High-Rise and a third straight Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sagamix, will be in action at Auteuil.

Shippy Ellis, who looks after the Frenchman's interests in Britain, said: "It has always been Olivier's ambition to ride over hurdles and he will partner a horse for Daniel Wildenstein at Auteuil. It has been a very good year for him. His wins in France earned over pounds 3million, the 14 in this country pounds 1.5million and the 27 which he rode during two months in Japan early in the year picked up another pounds 1.1million."

Peslier has a busy schedule to the end of the year and Ellis went on: "He goes to Japan to ride Muchea for Mick Channon in the Fuji Stakes the day before he partners Caitano in the Japan Cup. He will then be in action in Hong Kong on 9 December before going to Riyadh two days later and then returning to Hong Kong on 13 December for the International meeting where he will ride Decorated Hero, Al Mushtarak and Caitano. He will follow that by going to Argentina for three weeks and then returning to Japan to ride there early in the New Year."

Lester Piggott is selling part of his collection of trophies and paintings. The collection is expected to fetch pounds 100,000 at Sotheby's on Wednesday. Piggott, 63, said: "I had a lot of stuff and I haven't the room." Part of the proceeds are expected to go to the Injured Jockeys' Fund. A Sotheby's spokesman said the most valuable piece was a bronze sculpture of two horses by the French artist Mene - worth pounds 8,000 to pounds 12,000.