Benoit back with a bang

Lycetts-sponsored jockey Benoit de La Sayette has made a flying start to the 2023 season, picking up where he left off in 2022.

Benoit partnered with Lycetts last year and went on to become the UK’s ‘Champion Apprentice’ rider with 61 winners to his name.

Over the winter he took a break from life at employer John and Thady Gosden’s base in Newmarket, instead enjoying a stint at John O’Shea’s stable in Sydney.

It was clearly time well spent as Benoit has returned in fine form, landing the season-opening Lincoln handicap aboard the David Menuisier-trained Migration. He also enjoyed another high-profile success when booting home Mr Inspiration for the Gosden duo on All-Weather Finals day at Lingfield.

What are your reflections on 2022?

It was a fairy-tale, to be honest. I couldn’t have imagined a season like that. There were plenty of highs and I was thrilled to end up champion apprentice. A couple of highlights that stand out in my mind are the win on Vafortino in the Victoria Cup and the two winners at Glorious Goodwood on Trawlerman and Caius Chorister. I was lucky enough to sit on some very nice horses.

Stepping up on QIPCO British Champions Day to receive your Award from Willie Carson must have been great?

I’d never met him before, so to be presented with the trophy by him in front of such a big crowd was very special and something I’ll never forget.

Tell us about your winter in Australia…

I went for a two-month working break at trainer John O’Shea’s at Royal Randwick, Sydney. The stables are right next to the track. Morning stables pull-out for first lot was 5 o’clock; you ride seven or eight lots each day. Monday, Wednesday and Fridays were canter days. Gallops days were Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. All of the tracks for the morning work are on the interior of the racetrack itself. There galloping track is in between the racetrack and the canter track.

What did you learn?

Everything is done on a clock out there, so they time you per furlong. They want you to do an overall time, so you have to divide it by the amount of furlongs you do and get the total of seconds they want the horse to achieve. It was the first time I’d ever done something like that. It was hard to begin with but we have the help of a little beeper on the side of your helmet – it counts every second, so it gives you a hand. But it was nice to understand because I’d never actually counted how many seconds I used to go. I just used to rely on the feeling of the horse, but that has given me a better idea on what sort of pace you need when galloping a horse.

Did you get competitive opportunities?

Yes, I started off by doing a couple of barrier trials – they’re like a morning preparation for a horse to run, the next step from a piece of work. Owners and trainers treat it like an actual race; you wear a pair of silks and compete against other horses from other yards. It’s not as competitive as the races, but it’s similar.

And Race-Riding?

Yes, after three weeks I started to race-ride on weekends, mostly. I had about nine or ten rides. I didn’t manage to bag a winner but I definitely finished in the first four a couple of times.

What are your hopes for 2023 in the UK?

Obviously I’m coming towards the end of my apprentice claim, so it’s going to be interesting. I hope to do as well as last year. It’s not going to be easy when my claim finishes – but if I can do as well as last year, it will be something. I’m up for the challenge and the season has started really well. To win the Lincoln was just fantastic. It was my second ride in the race and my second winner in it. It’s my favourite race, without a doubt!

Interview: Tony Rushmer