Video shows star apprentice Benoit de la Sayette at party where cocaine was used

A video showing star apprentice Benoit de la Sayette in the presence of cocaine posted on social media on Tuesday has been blasted as malicious and intentionally damaging by the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA), which insisted the rider "did not and does not take cocaine".

The eight-second video, posted just before 8am on Tuesday from a Twitter account purporting to belong to the young rider, shows De La Sayette's face before flipping to show two unidentified individuals in a toilet cubicle talking and dividing up a white powder, confirmed to be cocaine by the PJA, into two lines with a bank card.

The video also appears to show whose camera roll it is taken from, although it is not clear who posted it on social media. A caption on the video alleges the footage was taken after De La Sayette's Lincoln win on Saturday, which was also strongly denied by the PJA.

In a statement, the PJA confirmed De La Sayette was in the video, which was allegedly recorded in Lambourn in October 2019 when the rider was 16 and not a licensed jockey, but that he had not taken the drug and had not taken it or been around it after the Lincoln, as the video suggests.

The PJA added that efforts were being made to have the account deleted.

The statement said: "A film has been tweeted from an account purporting to be Benoit de la Sayette's. The film was apparently first circulated in the aftermath of Benoit's victory aboard Haqeeqy in the Unibet Lincoln at Doncaster on Saturday. For the avoidance of doubt, this account is not Benoit's nor is it under his control. This carefully edited film maliciously suggests that Benoit was taking cocaine after winning the aforementioned race.

Haqeeqy and Benoit de la Sayette return after winning Saturday's LincolnCredit: John Grossick

"Benoit lives with his parents and was driven to and from Doncaster on Saturday by his father along with another jockey, and spent the evening at home with his parents. He was also riding at Doncaster on Sunday and once again driven there and back by his father.

"The film is actually from October 2019, when he was 16, nine months prior to Benoit being licensed. He was at a party in Lambourn and filmed being in the presence of cocaine that others, not him, were taking. He did not and does not take cocaine.

"Whoever is responsible for the distribution of this film is clearly intent on trying to cause significant damage to a young man at the start of his career. The PJA is taking steps to try and have the account that posted the video removed."

De La Sayette, the son of Geoffroy de la Sayette, a former Godolphin work-rider who oversaw Audarya's Breeders' Cup success for trainer James Fanshawe last year, has made an eyecatching start to his career with ten winners from just 37 rides, topped by Haqeeqy's Lincoln success.

He had been a leading rider in pony races in France and Britain before joining John Gosden last year, when he became the trainer's first apprentice for 29 years. He described Saturday's Lincoln victory as "a dream come true, a fairytale".

A spokesman for the BHA said the regulator was "aware" of the video and would be "looking into aspects of the matter". He added: "We will not comment further on the matter or any speculation surrounding it at present."

De La Sayette is due to take two rides at Kempton on Wednesday evening with trainers George Scott and James Fanshawe confirming their intention to use the apprentice on their horses.

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