Sanders riding hard to catch Spencer
SEB SANDERS had time to reflect on his brief association with the brilliant Alborada in the Salisbury winner’s enclosure yesterday; he also had a few moments to comment on his enduring batt le with Jamie Spencer for this year’s jockeys’ title.
Sanders is not one of racing’s loud mouths. He exudes confidence in the saddle, yet he is a loyal and disciplined character, no doubt moulded by his association with Sir Mark Prescott, who trained Alborada to win the Champion Stakes twice, as well as being responsible for the great fi lly’s daughter Alvarita, who won a one-mile maiden at Salisbury under a typically enterprising ride from Sanders.
The jockey recalled: “I rode Alborada as a two-year- old and I had also ridden her a fair bit at home. She has probably put her stamp on this fi lly.”
While Sanders was partnering Alvarita to a comfortable win over the Queen’s filly Life’s A Whirl, Spencer, his arch- rival in the weighing room, was delivering the counter punch, aboard a newcomer called Redeye Special in a maiden at Yarmouth.
Only 24 hours earlier, Spencer had ridden the fi rst four winners at Redcar, while Sanders had been beaten on two favourites at the same meeting. “It was very painful,” Sanders said. “But I’ll keep at it until the very last day,” he added determinedly.
If that sounds an all- out attempt to lift the jockeys’ crown, it should be taken seriously. He certainly means business, and with the backing of Prescott, he will make Spencer fi ght all the way to the line.
“To be honest, I’ve had a marvellous season,” Sanders said. “ I have a very good agent, who I trust, and I’m very happy just to have reached a hundred winners for the season. I am conscious of being in a battle with Jamie, but it’s a battle you can’t control. I can only do what I can to win,” he added.
Asked whether he and Spencer were good friends, he laughed: “Not now.”
Last night, Spencer led Sanders 133 winners to 118.
Meanwhile, Sanders has been booked to ride the inform Presto Shinko for Rich- ard Hannon in Saturday’s Ayr
Gold Cup, in which the
four-year-old will carry a
5lb penalty. “ Frankly, I
didn’t know where I would
be riding on Saturday, but
Presto Shinko sounds a
good ride,” the jockey
tated.
Hannon, who will have a
multitude of runners on Satrday, highlighted the probm of fi nding riders when
here is demand. “I have told
y office to book who you
an when you can. Get anyody,” he added, also pointg out that with a maximum of 28 runners in the Ayr Gold Cup and 23 in the Watership Down Stud Sales race at Newbury, resources wi l l be stretched to the limit.
David Elsworth, who has a decent crop of juveniles, saddled one of his most talented yesterday in Champions Gallery, who overcame bad luck in running to win at Salisbury. The trainer has entered the Dansi li colt in some decent races, although he was reluctant to commit him at this stage. “I think a lot of him, and he has won well. But you can see he has ‘ gone’ in his coat,” he added.
John Egan was suspended for five days (Sept 25- 29) for careless riding; while in other news, Chepstow have abandoned their last two Flat meetings of the season after ground problems and will seek alternative venues.