Seb Sanders
Sebastian Sanders was born in Wilnecote, Tamworth, on September 25, 1971. He came into racing by getting a job with local Tamworth trainer Bryan McMahon, and it was for him that he rode his first winner on Band On The Run at Pontefract on June 12, 1990.
Sebastian Sanders was born in Wilnecote, Tamworth, on September 25, 1971. He came into racing by getting a job with local Tamworth trainer Bryan McMahon, and it was for him that he rode his first winner on Band On The Run at Pontefract on June 12, 1990.
He was Champion Apprentice in 1995 and gained his first Group 1 success in 1997 in the July Cup at Newmarket on James Toller’s 50-1 outsider Compton Place.
He was Champion Apprentice in 1995 and gained his first Group 1 success in 1997 in the July Cup at Newmarket on James Toller’s 50-1 outsider Compton Place.
In 2004 he took over from George Duffield as first jockey to Sir Mark Prescott and won that year’s Preis von Europa in Germany for him on Miss Kirsten Rausing’s Albanova. That year, 2004, was a particularly good one for Seb, as he also won the Irish 2,000 Guineas on James Toller’s Bachelor Duke and the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes on the Dandy Nicholls-trained Bahamian Pirate.
In 2004 he took over from George Duffield as first jockey to Sir Mark Prescott and won that year’s Preis von Europa in Germany for him on Miss Kirsten Rausing’s Albanova. That year, 2004, was a particularly good one for Seb, as he also won the Irish 2,000 Guineas on James Toller’s Bachelor Duke and the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes on the Dandy Nicholls-trained Bahamian Pirate.
In 2006 he rode Sir Mark’s Confidential Lady to victory in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks), giving the trainer his first Classic success.
In 2006 he rode Sir Mark’s Confidential Lady to victory in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks), giving the trainer his first Classic success.
In 2007 Seb shared the British Flat Champion Jockey’s title with Jamie Spencer. On the final day of a thrilling season at Doncaster their seasonal totals finished level at 190 apiece when Spencer won the very last race of the season.
In 2007 Seb shared the British Flat Champion Jockey’s title with Jamie Spencer. On the final day of a thrilling season at Doncaster their seasonal totals finished level at 190 apiece when Spencer won the very last race of the season.
In 2008 he won the Oaks on Ralph Beckett’s filly Look Here and the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on John Best’s Kingsgate Native.
In 2008 he won the Oaks on Ralph Beckett’s filly Look Here and the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on John Best’s Kingsgate Native.
Seb was one of Britain's most successful Flat race jockeys, riding over 100 winners every year from 2002 to 2010. He achieved his last Group 1 victory in 2010 on Sir Mark Prescott’s Hooray in the Cheveley Park Stakes. He also won that year’s Qatar Derby on the Ahmed Kobeissi-trained Beethoven.
Seb was one of Britain's most successful Flat race jockeys, riding over 100 winners every year from 2002 to 2010. He achieved his last Group 1 victory in 2010 on Sir Mark Prescott’s Hooray in the Cheveley Park Stakes. He also won that year’s Qatar Derby on the Ahmed Kobeissi-trained Beethoven.
However, Seb struggled with his weight in the latter stages of his career. He rode in Britain for the last time at Newmarket in August 2015. He was last seen in action in the saddle in Qatar during their 2015-2016 season. He did not ride in Britain in 2016 and it was announced early the following year that he had taken a work-rider role with Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby.
However, Seb struggled with his weight in the latter stages of his career. He rode in Britain for the last time at Newmarket in August 2015. He was last seen in action in the saddle in Qatar during their 2015-2016 season. He did not ride in Britain in 2016 and it was announced early the following year that he had taken a work-rider role with Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby.
He rode more than 2,000 winners in Britain and overseas during his career, topping 100 winners in a season 10 times between 1997 and 2010.
He rode more than 2,000 winners in Britain and overseas during his career, topping 100 winners in a season 10 times between 1997 and 2010.
Seb Sanders
Seb Sanders
Classic winner:
Classic winner:
Oaks: Look Here (2008)
Oaks: Look Here (2008)
Other big winners:
Other big winners:
1995: Wokingham Stakes – Astrac
1995: Wokingham Stakes – Astrac
2004: Bessborough Stakes – Wunderwood
2004: Bessborough Stakes – Wunderwood
2004: Nunthorpe Stakes – Bahamian Pirate
2004: Nunthorpe Stakes – Bahamian Pirate
2005: Lingfield Oaks Trial – Cassydora
2005: Lingfield Oaks Trial – Cassydora
2008: Golden Jubilee Stakes – Kingsgate Native
2008: Golden Jubilee Stakes – Kingsgate Native
2008: Old Newton Cup – Mad Rush
2008: Old Newton Cup – Mad Rush
2010: Ascot Stakes – Junior
2010: Ascot Stakes – Junior
2010: Chesham Stakes – Zaidan
2010: Chesham Stakes – Zaidan
2010: Cheveley Park Stakes – Hooray
2010: Cheveley Park Stakes – Hooray
In Ireland
In Ireland
2004: Irish Two Thousand Guineas – Bachelor Duke
2004: Irish Two Thousand Guineas – Bachelor Duke