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PJA Denies De La Sayette Used Cocaine After Video Surfaces

The Professional Jockeys Association has claimed that star apprentice Benoit de la Sayette “did not and does not take cocaine” after a video surfaced on Twitter on Tuesday showing the 18-year-old in the presence of the drug. The eight-second video-posted from an account made to look as if it belonged to de la Sayette-showed the jockey's face before switching to two unidentified individuals in a toilet cubicle dividing up white powder with a bank card.

A caption on the video made it appear as if it had been posted on Saturday, after de la Sayette posted his most important victory to date aboard Haqeeqy (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the Lincoln H. The video has allegedly been found to have been recorded in Lambourn in October 2019, when de la Sayette was 16 and not yet a licensed jockey.

The PJA's statement read: “A film has been tweeted from an account purporting to be Benoit de la Sayette's. The film was apparently first circulated in the aftermath of Benoit's victory aboard Haqeeqy in the Unibet Lincoln at Doncaster on Saturday. For the avoidance of doubt, this account is not Benoit's nor is it under his control. This carefully edited film maliciously suggests that Benoit was taking cocaine after winning the aforementioned race.

“Benoit lives with his parents and was driven to and from Doncaster on Saturday by his father along with another jockey, and spent the evening at home with his parents. He was also riding at Doncaster on Sunday and once again driven there and back by his father.

“The film is actually from October 2019, when he was 16, nine months prior to Benoit being licensed. He was at a party in Lambourn and filmed being in the presence of cocaine that others, not him, were taking. He did not and does not take cocaine. Whoever is responsible for the distribution of this film is clearly intent on trying to cause significant damage to a young man at the start of his career. The PJA is taking steps to try and have the account that posted the video removed.”

Benoit de la Sayette was riding in his first turf race in the Lincoln and is the first rider to be apprenticed to John Gosden in 29 years.

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Mer de Glace to Stand in Turkey

Mer de Glace (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}-Glacier Blue {Jpn}, by Sunday Silence) will stand in Turkey, Turkish Bloodstock tweeted on Mar. 30. The 2019 G1 Caulfield Cup hero was acquired by Keles Ekurisi, Ozcolak Stud and Olguner Ekurisi. Also a winner of three Group 3 races in his native land, the dark bay was bred by Northern Farm and raced by U Carrot Farm. His record stands at 19-8-2-5 and $3,950,825 in earnings. His third dam is European champion Blue Note (Fr) (Habitat), dam of fellow European highweight Blue Duster (Danzig) and her full-brother Zieten (Danzig), who won the G1 Middle Park S.

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Alcohol Free Eyeing Return in Fred Darling S.

Group 1 winner Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) will return in the G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury on Apr. 17 prior to taking her chance in the G1 English 1000 Guineas on May 2. A winner of the G1 Cheveley Park S. last term, the Andrew Balding trainee has wintered well, but is still in her winter coat.

“I'm delighted with her–the only problem is she's still wearing her winter collection at the moment,” Balding told Sky Sports Racing. “I'm just hoping the coat starts to shift–which it should do, with the weather we've got forecast over the next week.

“I'd hope to see a change in that, but she's been showing all her usual ability in her work. She's done two fast pieces of work, and I'm really pleased where we're at in terms of her fitness levels and well-being–apart from the coat being a bit woolly.”

“The plan was to run in the Fred Darling as a prep for the Guineas. I think it's important with her to hopefully have a run before going a mile–but if she's not ready in time we'll go straight to Newmarket.

“That has always been the plan, and she relaxes so well–certainly at home. It gives her a chance of getting a mile, but if we can get a race in as a prep to make sure she does settle that would be to her advantage.”

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Racing League Jockeys Revealed

Several big names have been added to the upcoming Racing League competition this summer. Frankie Dettori, Oisin Murphy, Jim Crowley and Hollie Doyle are all set to take part.

Dettori is part of the Newmarket team, along with fellow riders Jamie Spencer and Luke Morris, who are paired with trainers John Gosden, Sir Mark Prescott, Robert Cowell and David Simcock. Murphy, Hayley Turner and Sean Levey are riding for Andrew Balding and Richard Hannon.

Murphy said, “This is an exciting innovation and considering the prize money there should be fierce competition between the teams. I look forward to being involved.”

Turner added, “It's great that the racing industry has decided to try something a bit different. I know the jockeys and the trainers are all really excited. I think it will help to capture a non-racing audience and be a fun event all round.”

The trio of Jim Crowley, Hector Crouch and Pat Cosgrave will ride for trainers George Baker, David Menuisier, Gary Moore and Amanda Perrett. Meanwhile, Doyle, Jack Mitchell and Cieren Fallon team up with another Newmarket training team consisting of Michael Bell, Ed Dunlop, James Fanshawe and Roger Varian.

Ireland is represented by David Egan, Gavin Ryan and Dylan Browne McMonagle for O'Brien brothers Donnacha and Joseph. However, Team France is in a holding pattern, as confirmation of regulations surrounding Brexit and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is still needed before announcing their nominated jockeys.

The Racing League competition limits each jockey to 18 of the 36 races in the competition. There is also £50,000 on offer to the three jockeys that score the most points in the competition. The 12 teams will compete at six meetings of six races apiece over six consecutive Thursdays in the summer beginning at Newcastle on July 29. Points are available from first to 10th in each race, and the highest scoring team throughout the competition wins the league.

Oli Harris, the Racing League's Chief Marketing Officer, said “We're delighted that the teams have now confirmed their jockeys. The likes of Hollie, Oisin and Frankie will no doubt grab the headlines, but we are also excited to have some of the most talented up and coming jockeys in UK and Ireland on board, as well as experienced campaigners such as Paul Hanagan, Martin Dwyer and Jamie Spencer. This is an important step in painting a complete picture of the Racing League.

“We will follow this by announcing the principal naming partner of each team, before the 30 horses in each team's squad are selected in July.”

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