Breeding & Racing Magazine

Brazilian Hoop Short Odds To Claim UK Title

Outstanding Brazilian-born jockey Silvestre de Sousa surged to the front of the UK rider's table overnight with a winning treble that took his tally to 52. Runner-up with 161 victories in 2011, de Sousa first sat on a horse as an 18-year-old and couldn't get a ride for the first six months as an apprentice. Following an initial unsuccessful stint with trainer Dermot Weld, de Sousa, based in the UK since 2006, has slowly forged a highly successful career following his decision to go freelance. According to racingpost.com, de Sousa is a red hot favourite with bookmakers, with odds ranging from $1.40 to $1.60. Brazil is proving to be the source of some of the world's best riding talent, with multiple Singapore champion jockey Joao Moreira recently claiming his first Hong Kong title.