Sanders back in hunt with a treble
(www.guardian.co.uk Thursday August 9, 2007, Ron Cox)
With Jamie Spencer a 1-5 shot, the bookmakers are in no doubt about the outcome of this season's jockeys' championship. But Spencer's only danger, Seb Sanders, is not giving up without a fight and a treble at Brighton yesterday afternoon put him on level pegging with Spencer, who was due to take six rides at Yarmouth last night.
Sanders, who went on to Kempton for their evening card, brought up his century for the season on King's Ransom in the seller at Brighton. "That's my fastest 100. I think my previous quickest was some time in late August," said Sanders. "July was a bit slow for me, but I've really picked up in the last two or three weeks."
A general 3-1 to win his first jockeys' title, Sanders added: "The worry will be the back-end of September and October when my stables are winding down, so my agent will have to be at his best."
More immediately, the jockey's task today is to overturn a two-day ban for careless riding which he picked up when second on Lake Poet at Glorious Goodwood. "I've never appealed before - you normally take the rough with the smooth - and I'm quite nervous about it but I think I've got a case," he said.
His appeal will be heard before a disciplinary panel of the British Horseracing Authority. If unsuccessful, Sanders will be unable to compete in the Shergar Cup at Ascot on Saturday, where he is due to ride for the Great Britain team.
Should Sanders lose his appeal, either Darryll Holland or Hayley Turner, who made her debut in last year's competition, will take his place at Ascot.