Silvestre de Sousa 'keen to work and looking forward to the freelance challenge'

Three-time champion Flat jockey Silvestre de Sousa is not expecting an easy transition back to life as a freelance but he is relishing the challenge as he rides for the first time in Britain this year at Doncaster on Saturday.

De Sousa, the title winner in 2015, 2017 and 2018, will not be retained rider to owners King Power Racing this season after his contract was not renewed following its third year, with the Brazilian jockey intent on building new contacts.

He has spent the last two and a half months riding in Saudi Arabia, enjoying local Group 1 and Group 2 success, and is booked for four rides on the SBK-sponsored card including the Heather Main-trained Mostawaa in the Spring Mile and Mick Channon-trained Johan in the Lincoln.

Doncaster Saturday cards

De Sousa, who is a best price 33-1 with bet365 to win the championship, said: “I’m fresh, feeling good and looking forward to the challenge – I want to ride as many winners as I can. I’m free for the best ride available and it will be a change. I’m keen to work and I’ll be available for a good race and a good horse. I’ll be freelance through the season and any call that comes will be welcome.

“Shelley [Dwyer, agent] will be booking my rides and I hope she will be very busy! I hope she gets plenty of yes’s from the trainers and not too many no’s.

“Having a go at another championship will all depend on how the season goes. It’s generally felt it can be quite hard when you lose a retainer because it’s a case of building up your contacts again, I won’t have the first call on any ride and it’s not like being able to pick and choose.

“It’s tough out there and there are many top riders. William Buick, Tom Marquand, James Doyle and Jim Crowley are top jockeys and have better connections than me. It’s a long season and the main thing is to keep injury free.”

De Sousa had originally been granted a licence to ride in Hong Kong from February to July but the Covid-19 pandemic put paid to that plan. Instead he experienced the racing scene in Saudi Arabia, one he expects to continue to grow.

He said: “It was a shame to miss out on Hong Kong, I had everything planned to go over but the government changed the rules and it became impossible, so I took up an invite to go to Saudi Arabia and it was a good experience.

“I had some good success there and was associated with some nice local horses. It was a good winter break and the racing there will go from strength to strength. Every race has a big field and it’s competitive. The people are very passionate for racing and with the money that is put into the sport I can only see it growing.”

Flat jockeys' championship

bet365: 4-11 William Buick, 5-2 Tom Marquand, 7 David Probert, 10 Hollie Doyle, 16 Cieren Fallon, 20 Ben Curtis, 25 James Doyle, Marco Ghiani, 33 Silvestre de Sousa, Richard Kingscote, Danny Tudhope

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