- Deutsch is stable jockey for Venetia Williams and is having a fantastic season
- Claimed big wins in the first grade Betfair Chase and Cheltenham in December
Charlie Deutsch makes it sound as routine as being asked to stay behind for an extra hour at the office, but, as we soon discover, his task was anything but mundane.
Deutsch is Venetia Williams' stable jockey and is having a fantastic season. He has been a man to watch on a Saturday, with a golden period before Christmas producing a string of big race wins, including the Grade One Betfair chase in his former favorite Royale Pagaille.
But none were more deserved than Gemirande's, the type of jersey his trainer excels in, at Cheltenham on December 14. Yes, there was finesse in the saddle, but the foundation was laid by a week of fasting, this is a remarkable story of discipline and self-control.
Deutsch had to get to about 10 to gain weight and such was his determination to get there, he even felt guilty about having a sliver of smoked salmon the day before the race. Here, if it were needed, was the last proof that the profession of a horseman is really like no other.
“I knew I had a certain amount of weight to lose, so anything you eat is a negative food really,” a laughing Deutsch tells Mail Sport. 'Even that bit of salmon, I started thinking to myself, “Ah! Have I eaten too much! “You know what you have to do, but you're never sure you'll make the weight.
'Many riders don't even mention it. They go on, win the race, and no one thinks about it anymore. I have done it before and I will do it again. I had one incredibly healthy meal at the beginning of the week and each day I reduced it. I would have a bite of something to keep the hunger at bay.
Charlie Deutsch is stable jockey for Venetia Williams and is having a fantastic season
Deutsch claimed big wins in the first grade Betfair Chase and Cheltenham in December
'If I was really hungry, I would have a corner of something or a little fruit. I know what you're thinking, and it's amazing what equestrians do on a day-to-day basis, when you hear most people complain about their jobs, but I wanted to ride the horse.
'The adrenaline of riding a horse like him goes through you: you forget about tiredness and hunger. If he didn't, someone else would approach him. I want to be the one who experiences the joy that things are going well. I don't want to see anyone else receiving that joy.
Fortunately, there has been a lot of joy this winter and there could be more this afternoon. Gemirande (150) is back for another spin, at a weight that hasn't meant a week of water and dry biscuits, and there's also the attractive prospect of L'Homme Presse in the Cotswold Chase (225).
In an afternoon to savor: how could it not be when the outstanding Constitution Hill is in action (300)? – There will be chances for Deutsch, a keen rugby fan who would like to visit Twickenham, to showcase his talents and demonstrate why Williams has been prepared to invest so much faith in him.
“I've had a lot to prove to Venetia, but I've been there a long time,” Deutsch explained. 'She has confidence in me and understands why I do things in racing. She also knows that I understand how she likes her horses to ride. We both agree on many things.
They also agree on the opportunity that lies before Deutsch in the newly created David Power Jockeys Cup, which runs alongside the Jockeys championship. It has been designed to make weekends matter and Deutsch, who is eighth at the table, thinks the innovation should be applauded.
“Now there's an advantage in the weighing room and you can feel it,” Deutsch said, aware that the higher you go standing, the better the financial rewards. 'There is a lot more talk and it's great. I've had a good season and I'm in the top 10. But I know I can't rest on my laurels.