Fox hoping for better things after Sedgefield success

SEAN FOX is hoping his fortunes have taken a turn for the better after he rode his first winner since the ‘Ice Saint Affair’ at Sedgefield yesterday.

Fox booted home Ghadames in the Wares Teesside Ltd 01642 358040 Handicap Chase.

The 33-year-old jockey last tasted success on Dunraven at Leicester in January of last year, and two months later he was banned for 21 days after the Fontwell stewards found him guilty of intentionally stepping off Ice Saint in a novice chase.

However, six months later his suspension was quashed on appeal at the Jockey Club and he was completely exonerated of any wrongdoing.

During that period he decided temporarily to give up riding “until everything was sorted out”.

He joined Richard Guest’s highly-successful stable at Brancepeth earlier this year and it was his new boss who supplied Ghadames.

After dismounting, Fox said: “I’ve been longing for that. My last winner was in a seller at Leicester over a year ago.

“I’ve been with Richard for just over a month. I’ve known him for a long time and he told me to get my backside up here and he’d get me going again.

“A few more spins and I’ll get a lot fitter and when things get going, hopefully I’ll get a few outside rides as well.

“I’m 33, with no mileage on the clock. My weight is coming down and 10st 9lb would be my minimum at the moment.”

Explaining his reason for the self-imposed break from riding, he said: “I stopped riding for about six months after Ice Saint. I’d lost a few contacts over what happened and people were making excuses for not putting me on, so I just decided not to ride because I didn’t want to fall out with anyone.

“It was my decision. I decided not to ride until everything was sorted out.

“It’s very hard to keep your weight down when you’re not busy and I got up to 11st 12lb.

“I started back in November and it took me a while to get fit. I used to ride at 10st 4lb and I’ll be doing that, no problem.

“I’m probably in a better position now than I’ve ever been. Richard has got 70 horses and he has been very good to me. I’m delighted to get back winning.”

Fox first took out a licence in 1988 has now won a total of 80 races in Britain as well as others in Europe.