Racing: Split threatens Cauthen career: The former champion may hang up his boots after a campaign which proved him to be one of the best riders in British turf history

THE MOST sought-after jockey job in the world is up for grabs following the announcement that Steve Cauthen and Sheikh Mohammed will not be renewing their partnership this Flat season. It is likely that we will not see Cauthen riding regularly on British courses again, given the paucity of employers capable of providing him with the rewards he requires, and his much-publicised battle with his weight.

Cauthen, the three-times champion jockey, and the Sheikh, the world's most influential owner, have failed to reach a financial agreement for a third term after two years as a team. The American is thought to have refused to agree a cut to his reported pounds 1m retainer.

'Steve wasn't willing to accept their terms,' John Hanmer, the jockey's agent, said last night. 'They went back to each other two or three times and still couldn't agree so they're now looking elsewhere.'

Cauthen, champion jockey of Britain on three occasions, may now never ride regularly on these shores again. 'Steve says he'll definitely be back in England regularly, but, I assume, not to ride,' Hanmer said. 'Somebody might ring up and make him an offer he can't refuse, but there certainly isn't anyone who can do that in this country this year.

'As no-one else would be able to offer him anything like that retainer - both in terms of cash and horse power - I have my doubts as to whether he will return. Riding as a freelance here is a complete non-starter, especially for somebody who has enjoyed the success he has and who doesn't need to do it anyway.'

The split was announced yesterday evening in a press release from the Sheikh's umbrella company, the Darley Stud Management. 'It is with regret that we will not be renewing our association, but we are parting on the best of terms and we wish him a very successful future,' Anthony Stroud, the Sheikh's racing manager, said.

'Steve's record speaks for itself. He is a truly top class jockey and a great ambassador for the sport. We have thoroughly enjoyed our successful working relationship.'

Cauthen's relationship with British racing began in 1979, when he arrived with a tall reputation and a fistful of records. As a 16-year-old apprentice he twice rode six winners in a day at New York's Aqueduct track and in 1977 became champion jockey, his total of 433 winners in New York State a record that has never been bettered.

This unbridled success continued when Marquee Universal gave him a win on his first ride here, shortly followed by his first Classic success on Tap On Wood in the 2,000 Guineas.

In 1984, he took the first of his jockeys' championships, at the same time becoming the first American since Danny Maher in 1908 to take the title. The same year he won the Dante Stakes for Henry Cecil on Claude Monet, setting up a permament move to Warren Place to replace Lester Piggott as stable jockey.

This switch provided Cauthen's first association with Sheikh Mohammed horses and the chance to ride outstanding performers such as Oh So Sharp, Old Vic, Diminuendo and Indian Skimmer.

The American's best season numerically was in 1987, when he narrowly overcame Pat Eddery with 197 victories, an effort which did much to dull his appetite for the incessant travelling. His alliance with the choicely-bred string of Sheikh Mohammed two years ago consequently appeared to be his dream job.

The partnership combined for 188 winners over the last two seasons, seven of them Group Ones, though success at the highest level in Britain last term proved elusive until Zieten's victory in the Middle Park Stakes in October.

Now that Cauthen has no regular employment, he may surrender his long-time conflict with the scales and hang up his saddle. 'He has declined to say he is retiring because he doesn't rule anything out and he's plenty young enough,' Hanmer said. 'But there are other things he wants to do and he's always said that he's not going to go on that long.

'But you never know, Lester gave up when he was 50-odd and rode again five years later, and Steve's only 32.'

The fact remains though that a maiden event at Yarmouth last October, won by John Gosden's Half Term, may now take on a significant meaning. That was the last British race won by Steve Cauthen in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed.

----------------------------------------------------------------- STEVE CAUTHEN - THE BIG WINNERS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Horse Race Year Trainer Tap On Wood 2,000 Guineas 1979 B Hills Cormorant Wood Champion Stakes 1983 B Hills Time Charter Coronation Cup 1984 H Candy Gildoran Gold Cup 1984 B Hills Slip Anchor Derby 1985 H Cecil Pebbles Eclipse Stakes 1985 C Brittain Oh So Sharp 1,000 Guineas, Oaks, St Leger 1985 H Cecil Reference Point Derby, King George VI, St Leger 1987 H Cecil Indian Skimmer French Oaks 1987 H Cecil Diminuendo Oaks, Irish Oaks 1988 H Cecil Triptych Coronation Cup 1988 P Biancone Michelozzo St Leger 1989 H Cecil Old Vic Irish Derby, French Derby 1989 H Cecil In The Groove International, Champion Stakes 1990 D Elsworth -----------------------------------------------------------------