PIGGOTT SERIOUS ABOUT COMEBACK

Legendary jockey Lester Piggott today revealed he is taking his return to the saddle at the age of 65 seriously.

The nine-time Derby winner, who quit racing in 1995, is to ride in the Emirates Airline Legends race at Flemington in Australia a week on Saturday.

And the 'long fella' has spent three months getting into shape for the four-furlong contest, in which his rivals will include the retired American lady rider Julie Krone.

'I wouldn`t be going to Melbourne if I couldn`t compete,' the 11-time British champion told the Mail On Sunday.

'I`m delighted how well I still do it. I don`t want to put my feet up. I want to keep active. That`s the secret of old age.

'When you can still ride a racehorse and not fall off you know you are still all right.'

Piggott is 65 next Sunday but he believes he is still in good physical condition.

'I`m quite a bit heavier than when racing regularly but I`m still under 10st,' said Piggott, whose height of 5ft 7 (meant he had a constant battle with the scales during his career)

'I get aches and pains but I think I`m reasonably lucky. I don`t feel a lot different physically to what I was 20 years ago.' -PA-