Silvestre de Sousa: “It’s too big an opportunity for me to miss”
PICTURE: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)
SILVESTRE DE SOUSA’S standing among the leading rank of Britain’s jockeys was confirmed on Tuesday evening when his services were secured by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation.
The appointment opens an exciting new chapter in the career of De Sousa, 31, who has enjoyed phenomenal success since riding his first British winner six years ago.
He was the punters’ choice to succeed Richard Hills as first jockey to Hamdan Al Maktoum, but he revealed Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford had already presented him with a firm job offer a fortnight ago.
However, rather than immediately sign on the dotted line, De Sousa, who lives in Yorkshire and feels a strong loyalty to trainers in the county who have provided the backbone of his support in the climb to the top, asked for time to consider and reached his decision only on Tuesday.
“Simon offered me the job a couple of weeks ago and I had a few doubts in my mind, but I got up this morning and decided to accept it,” said De Sousa, currently enjoying his first winter stay in Dubai where, following an invitation from Crisford, he has ridden nine winners since arriving last month.
He added: “It’s too big an opportunity for me to miss and I’m delighted to have been given the job.”
Crisford said: “We have a formal arrangement in place for Silvestre de Sousa to ride for Godolphin this coming Flat season and he’ll ride for both our trainers, Saeed Bin Suroor and Mahmood Al Zarooni.”
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