Fergus Sweeney aiming to build momentum after whirlwind year in the saddle

A year of international enterprise has resulted in Flat jockey Fergus Sweeney returning to Britain as a better rider and looking to build momentum into the new year.

Sweeney celebrated Oaks and Derby success during a near four-month spell in India as well as spending time in Korea, Singapore and Mauritius as he gained experience in various racing jurisdictions.

The rider has enjoyed two wins aboard Zarrar for Brendan Powell since returning last month, and feels refreshed now back in familiar surroundings.

He said: "I felt it was time for a change towards the end of last year and I’d never had much of a break before. I’ve had my licence out here since I was 16 and didn’t want to stop riding, so I thought a change would be as good as a break and went for it.

"The great thing about racing is it can take you anywhere in the world and when I did well in India it gave me the incentive to try somewhere else.

"I feel I’ve come back a better, sharper rider and it’s a case of getting the ball rolling again now – I’ve been lucky to have a couple of winners for Brendan Powell and I’m slowly starting to build up a bit of momentum."

Sweeney enjoyed Group 1 glory aboard the Henry Candy-trained Twilight Son in the Sprint Cup at Haydock in 2015 and is adopting a 'have saddle, will travel' approach with agent Neil Allan booking rides for the freelance jockey.

Reflecting on his globetrotting exploits, Sweeney added: "I ended up top jockey on prize-money in India and had an Oaks and Derby winner. It worked out well and I really enjoyed the place, the racing and the lifestyle.

"I struggled with the weights in Korea but had a good strike-rate with 13 winners from around 70 mounts. Mauritius was not as fruitful as by the time the paperwork was sorted there was only five weeks left of their season.

"It was a completely different style of racing in each place and I learned from them all. It definitely brings you on, even at the ripe old age of 40!

"After a full year I decided to concentrate on Britain. They can be quite lonely places so a year was enough to be away from the family and there’s not a better time to be back than for Christmas!"

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