Apprentice Laura Pearson is taking a break from riding until the start of the Flat season in March. Pearson, who currently has a five-pound claim, announced the news at Wolverhampton on Sunday. On top of the apprentice jockeys' title race with 22 winners, Pearson has 23 winners left before her claim is reduced to three pounds. Pearson made the call after discussing the issue with trainer Tom Clover and her agent Steve Croft.
“We've had a good chat about it, myself and the governor [Clover] and my agent–and you've got to look at the bigger picture and save my five for those nice handicaps on the Turf,” Pearson told Sky Sports Racing. “I'm going to be 'box-walking' … but in the long run, it's the right thing to do.”
“I always had my blinkers on for it,” she added of the all-weather championship. “We'll see if I can keep my nose in front, and come back and bounce a couple more out if I do get a little bit short.”
“It's been absolutely incredible,” she said. “I've just got to keep my feet on the ground and keep my head straight. The amount of different trainers who have given me the opportunity to ride for them [means] every day I'm coming out and riding more, and everybody's helping me.”
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