Adam Beschizza to prolong US adventure after making spectacular start

Adam Beschizza has put off a return to Britain to prolong his stay in the US and try to build on a winter stint in New Orleans that has been nothing short of spectacular.

As the Fair Grounds meet – where Beschizza has been riding since November – enters its final week the British Flat rider is lying second with 59 wins, four off leader Shaun Bridgmohan, in the race to finish top jockey. He rode a career best 38 in Britain in 2017.

Once the meeting is over on Saturday he will relocate to Keeneland where its Spring meet starts on April 6 and from there probably on to Churchill Downs.

"I have to build on what I've got here," he said. "I spent nine years trying to do that in England and it never really did blossom. I had spells, but it's nice to be appreciated for what I am trying to achieve. I seem to be noticed a bit more. Whether it continues I don't know. I would love to ride back home again. When it will be I am not quite sure."

In Britain Beschizza, 25, is best known for the rare feat of completing the autumn double by riding the winners of the 2015 Cambridgeshire and Cesarewitch, on Third Time Lucky and Grumeti respectively, and would usually spend the winter on the all-weather circuit.

Instead he went to the US to link up with trainer Joe Sharp, husband of former top rider Rosie Napravnik. The jockey nicknamed 'Biscuit' knew it would give him a chance to hobnob with some of US racing's biggest names but was only expecting to pick up a few crumbs in rides once the meeting was in full swing.

However, he made an instant impact with three wins for Sharp from his first ten rides and as the winners kept flowing so did the rides, not just for Sharp but for Mark Casse, Tom Proctor and Steve Asmussen for whom he came within a nose of riding a first Graded victory on Snapper Sinclair in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes.

"I had built a bridge with Joe many years ago and if I hadn't given it a go this year it would always be in the back of my mind," said Beschizza. "I had to put the dream to bed and it has paid off.

"Last year in England was pretty good and I felt I could have built on that this year, but I never imagined riding as many winners here and getting the support I have. The prize-money is a game-changer too.

"The Keeneland meet lasts three weeks but it is very tough with the likes of Wesley Ward, Chad Brown and a lot of the New York trainers coming down. The Kentucky Derby is the same weekend as Guineas weekend and there might be something in the Oaks for Joe [Sharp]. A lot of the trainers who are at Fair Grounds will be at Churchill which might be a help.

"Maybe it will be a good thing to do a year here and weigh things up when we come round to Fair Grounds again."

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