Olivier has always ridden for Criquette Head where he started his apprenticeship at the age of 14.

I first noticed him when he rode a horse called Mad Tax to break the mile track record in Madrid back in 1992.

At the time he was a very chirpy individual who always seemed likely to succeed and he sure has.

I rate him as technically amongst the top two jockeys in France with a good attitude on and off the piste together with a power packed finish in the saddle.

With the retirement of Freddie Head in 1997, Olivier became Criquette's stable jockey and one regularily sees him riding the classics in the famous Wertheimer silks.
This along with rides for his father means that he does not obtain that many "outside" rides in France.
It was in the Wertheimer colours that he lifted the 1994 French 2,000 Guineas on Green Tune in a very exciting finish.

His best career total in France was in 1997 with 87 winners where he also lifted two Group races on Arc weekend.
The first of these was on Chief Contender for Peter Chapple Hyam in the Prix du Cadran and Loving Claim in the Prix Marcel Boussac.

In the winter of 1999, he ventured to Singapore where he had a very successful season and he again reached the 74 winner mark in France in 2000.
The crowning moment of his career so far has come aboard the outsider Egyptband to win the French Oaks, something his father had also acheived 21 years previously on Dunette.

It was aboard Egyptband that Olivier chased home Sinndar to finish 2nd in the Arc de Triomphe.

Whereas in France in 2001, the season was a little below par, the winter of 2001/2002 in Hong Kong has been very successful for him where he has ridden a string of big winners and earned a high strike rate.

Colleagues of Olivier's such as Peslier & Mosse have ventured frequently & successfully to UK waters in recent years and I am sure that Olivier would prove a hit on British racecourses.
Let's hope that Criquette lets him sneak out once in a while !

Between 1992-2001, Olivier's mounts earned FRF 131 million in prizemoney.

In 2002, sure enough, Olivier broke up with Criquette, on very good terms, and decided to venture to Hong Kong.

However, in April, 2003, Olivier succombed to substance abuse and was caught by the authorities in Hong Kong. He admitted to the offense straight off and the stewards were as lenient as they could be....giving him 6 months off.

It is without question that he will never be allowed to ride there again. Let's hope he concentrates on doing what he does best and returns to the straight & narrow.

Biographical information & Statistics sourced from FranceGalop.com

Year	Wins	Rides	Position
1992	65	523	9th
1993	52	539	15th
1994	74	673	6th
1995	66	688	8th
1996	67	558	6th
1997	81	626	6th
1998	85	680	6th
1999	61	602	13th
2000	74	608	6th
2001	45	476	17th
2002	39	429	18th
Total	709	6,402	--