Duo share dramatic title
(11/11/07 sportinglife.com)
Seb Sanders and Jamie Spencer shared the Flat jockeys' championship after a pulsating battle was only concluded in the final race of the season at Doncaster on Saturday.
In a topsy-turvy chase that has seen constant twists and turns over the past month or so, the duelling duo ended locked together on 190 winners.
After a mentally and physically push on what proved a genuinely grand finale, the honours were shared for the first time since 1923, when Steve Donoghue and Charlie Elliott also finished level.
The result was the perfect outcome in many ways, and enabled both men to bask in the limelight - and thus avoid having to cope with what would have been the cruellest of defeats.
Sanders watched the final race of the 2007 season from the weighing room, safe in the knowledge he could not lose the title he has strived to obtain with such commitment this year.
However, Spencer's breathlessly-cool win aboard Inchnadamph meant the uncompromising rider had to settle for a share of the spoils with the 2005 champion.
When asked for his initial feelings on passing the post in front, Spencer said: "I'm tired!
"It's just such a relief and I cannot wait to shake Seb's hand as he'll be as happy as I am that it's all over."
And he didn't have to wait long, as Sanders gave his fellow weighing-room colleague a hug and pat on the back.
Sanders said: "It wasn't hard to watch that last race and Jamie honestly deserved it as much as me.
"Coming here today, with the pain of losing a real possibility, and to have been beaten would have been very hard after such a long season.
"It's just a brilliant feeling as I've been trying for the past seven or eight years and my dream has finally come true.
"All I have to do is ride the horses and a lot of people deserve credit for everything that I have been able to achieve this year."
Spencer won the 2005 title outright, but was quick to quash any suggestions sharing the spoils was any less enjoyable.
"Any time you win a championship it's going to be special," he said.
"You really do feel the pressure and it has just been head to head - as soon as one of us caught the other it would change again.
"People behind the scenes have been great and there have been lots of people who have given me rides that normally might not.
"Words can't really describe this feeling and right now I just want to get a lie-down and have a sleep.
"But I'm only about two hours from home and I should celebrate as this doesn't happen too often."
Sanders nudged two ahead of his rival when Incomparable won an eventful first division of the six-furlong juvenile maiden after Godolphin's Omnicat swerved late when in front to unship Eddie Ahern and hand the race to Sanders.
Spencer drew within touching distance again when Generous Thought did the job in pleasing style in the nursery.
Spencer and Sanders also went agonisingly close aboard Minus Fifteen and Borderlescott respectively before the former rider gained that crucial last winner in the finale.
"I'm not usually too emotional a person, but I was as choked up as I could be after pulling up past the line," Spencer said.
"That is the most pressure I can remember and he often moves well before failing to quicken so I was a little nervous when we hit the front so far out."
Spencer admitted the duel left him exhausted and does not envisage a similar end to next season.
"It's very, very demanding," he said.
"I'll be riding every day but I want to watch my family grow up and spend more time away (helping charity), so I'll not be tearing up and down the country again.
"I'm delighted for Seb. He's not very pretty but I went up to him and gave him a hug and a kiss.
"He's hard to beat and he's a real professional - he's deserved it."
Perhaps an ideal insight into that professionalism was exemplified by Sanders having to rush away to Wolverhampton to fulfil riding commitments on Saturday evening.
Sanders added: "This is a great job and Sir Mark Prescott's horse is a well-bred filly.
"I'll go to Wolverhampton as it's my job and I'd honestly be disappointed if he wanted to put someone else on her."
And after the new champions had doused one another in champagne, Sanders concluded: "I'm absolutely freezing now but it's been a great day - a dream."
Aidan O'Brien, Greg Fairley and the Godolphin operation also had cause for celebration as each carried off championships of their own.
Godolphin finished the season as leading owners, while O'Brien finished as leading trainer.
Fairley rode 65 winners to stroll away with the apprentice title and will now hope to follow in the footsteps of Sanders, who earned that honour in 1995.
Reflecting on the race for the senior championship, Fairley said: "They've worked hard and hopefully one year I'll be in that same sort of battle with someone else."
If there is ever to be a repeat of this season's remarkable climax, the racing public will be forever grateful.