Leading apprentice Benoit de la Sayette apologetic after admitting taking cocaine

Leading apprentice jockey Benoit de la Sayette has received notification of a positive drugs test for a metabolite of cocaine.

The 18-year-old has made a stunning start to his career in recent months, with the honour of being champion trainer John Gosden's first apprentice for 29 years.

De la Sayette made an instant impact on the all-weather during the winter before winning one of the biggest handicaps of the year, the Lincoln at Doncaster, aboard the Gosden-trained Haqeeqy on his first ride on turf at Doncaster last month.

Last month a video circulated on social media claiming to show De la Sayette at a party in the presence of cocaine following his victory on Haqeeqy on March 27.

The PJA issued a statement on the rider’s behalf denying the allegation and that he “did not and does not take cocaine.”

Subsequently, the British Horseracing Authority arranged to take urine and hair samples from De la Sayette on March 31.

The urine sample returned negative on the same day the test was administered, but the PJA said that on Friday De la Sayette was informed by the BHA that the hair sample had returned positive for metabolites of cocaine.

De la Sayette has now admitted that he had previously taken cocaine and that he had initially not been as forthcoming as he ought to have been to those close to him and advising him, the PJA said, adding he maintains that the circulated video was from October 2019, that he did not take cocaine on that occasion and did not do so after winning the Lincoln.

He was due to ride at Brighton on Saturday, but stood himself down and agreed he would not accept any further rides. He has subsequently been informed by the BHA that he is now suspended from riding pending the conclusion of the disciplinary process, which he will fully co-operate with.

De la Sayette said in a statement issued by the PJA: “I cannot apologise enough for my actions, both in respect of taking cocaine and of misleading those around me. Earlier this year I moved back home to live with my parents in order to take myself away from an environment where it was present.

“There are no excuses and I am sorry for letting down my family, the team at Clarehaven Stables, Mr Gosden and my colleagues in the weighing room.”

PJA chief executive Paul Struthers said: “Benoit is a very young man who only turned 18 in December 2020. He has made mistakes but the PJA will continue to support him throughout the process.”

De la Sayette said recently: “I’ve been incredibly lucky to have this at this stage of my career. To sit on lovely horses in the morning, and the afternoon is a dream come true.

“I’ve ridden pretty much all my life to be fair and it’s always been my ambition to be a jockey. At the moment I’m just a very lucky boy to be where I am and riding the horses I am. I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my career.

Of Gosden, he added: “The boss is amazing and he has played a big part in my career already. The way he explains stuff to me, I just learn so much there every day and hopefully it will carry on.”

The son of Geoffroy de la Sayette, who rode about 250 winners in France, has had a dozen winners from 49 rides. He had previously excelled in pony races in France and Britain, and has been a regular face at Gosden’s Clarehaven yard in Newarket for several years.