Jockey accused of rape is riding mornings for Aidan O’Brien

Pierre-Charles Boudot, a former champion jockey who has not been allowed in races since he was accused of rape in France more than two years ago, has been riding mornings in Ireland for Aidan O’Brien, the trainer told Racing TV.

“He’s with us riding work,” O’Brien said Saturday in a paddock interview after Savethelastdance won the Group 1 Irish Oaks at the Curragh. “He rides (debut-winning, 2-year-old colt Henry Longfellow) out every day. We’re delighted to have him. Listen, obviously, he’s a big help, (he has) a lot of experience, and everything’s going good.”

Boudot, 30, steadfastly denied the accusation by a France prosecutor that he performed “acts of rape likely to have been committed on the night of Feb. 17 to 18, 2021.” In retracing the story Monday, the London tabloid The Sun said the case involved a woman who claimed she was attacked by Boudot at a party in Cagnes-sur-Mer, France.

Racing administrators at France Galop immediately suspended Boudot when the charges were announced. Boudot’s license was suspended indefinitely last fall at the prodding of the France Ministry of Interior. Boudot has not ridden in a race since May 2021.

Before that Boudot won 11 Group 1 races highlighted by the 2019 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe aboard Waldgeist.