Seb Sanders Epsom Derby Profile

Seb has made his way to the top of flat jockey's tables over the last couple of years and in 2004 challenged for the title itself. It all started for Seb through local trainer Brian McMahon, for whom his father worked as a plumber. In 1987, Seb soon found himself riding out for his father's client and the following year became his full-time apprentice.

Seb's first career win was at Pontefract in June 1990 with a horse called Band On The Run.

In 1994, Seb began working for Reg Akehurst, for whom he started to ride plenty of winners. In 1995 he won the Wokingham at Royal Ascot with Astrac and went on to ride a total of 65 winners, thus becoming the Champion Apprentice Jockey of the year.

With the winners he was accumulating and the strength he showed in the saddle, Seb started to make a name for himself. His big break came when he was spotted by top trainer Sir Mark Prescott and invited to join his team as second jockey to George Duffield, a stalwart of the yard for many years.In 2004, Seb took over from the retiring George Duffield to become Sir Mark Prescott's first jockey, therefore having the pick of the yard's best horses.

However, it is the James Toller-trained Bachelor Duke who is the best horse Seb has ever ridden, having partnered him to victory in the 2004 Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh. Seb gave the horse an outstanding ride to land his first Classic victory and mark the biggest win of his career so far.

On another occasion, Seb gave a particularly impressive performance when he rode the fairly moderate Unleash to a tight victory in a race at Leicester in 2002. Seb like many jockeys has long respected former Champion Jockeys Lester Piggott and Pat Eddery. He admires their awesome riding talents and says that they are both extremely nice characters.