Seb Saunders


After twenty years hard work and dedication to rise to the top of his profession as Champion Jockey, Seb Sanders did not rest on his laurels.

2008 started well with his first Classic success as Look Here won the Oaks at Epsom, another Group One as Kingsgate Native won at Royal Ascot and big wins riding for John Gosden and Luca Cumani. Anyone who thought Seb was not fit to wear the mantle of Champion Jockey soon realised that he was determined and talented enough to stay at the top.

All this came to a halt as Seb was involved in an horrific race-riding fall at Chester in August as three jockeys ended on the turf and Seb emerged with a broken femur. As well as missing the winning ride aboard Muhannak in the Breeders Cup Marathon, he lost a lot of momentum in his ascent as there are plenty of jockeys ready to take advantage of a competitor's absence

It has been a long road back and a huge effort to maintain fitness and a racing weight but Seb has come through the enforced absence determined to get back to where he was and to find ways of improving still further. Footballers have huge teams of support around them to get them through their injuries but self-employed jockeys do not have that ready-made network of paid assistance.

As part of the recovery he shadowed an Apprentice course at the Racing School, passing on his vast experience and has also been using our first-class facilities, as he told the Racing Post

"I've been swimming, I've done plenty in the gym, and the British Racing School have been brilliant. I've been going there regularly after riding out to use their equicizer," he says.

Its more than fitness he has been working on, "Richard Perham (BRS jockey instructor) is an excellent coach and I've been working with him, getting a bit of coaching on looking more polished. Why not? I had time on my hands and Richard has helped me in the past, when I had whip bans. Nobody is beyond a bit of coaching."

Seb has had four winners to date as he waits for the season and Sir Mark to take off but he has picked up a spare ride for Jeremy Noseda in the 2000 Guineas on Saturday aboard Himalya. We wish him well for that and are glad we have been able to provide some support in Seb's inevitable return to the summit!