WEIGHT PROBLEMS have forced Waiter Swinburn into taking a temporary break from the saddle, the jockey announced yesterday.

Swinburn (35) declared he was taking a sabbatical from race riding in the long term interests of his career.

Swinburn, whose riding weight is 8st 8lb, said he was "hugely disappointed" to be forced into the decision especially at a time when Michael Stoute's Freemason Lodge yard was facing such a promising season.

"However," he continued, "I would not be fair to myself or anyone else if I did not give my body or my metabolism a chance to settle down and it has significantly failed to do that over recent months, in spite of the rigid adherence to a medically supervised diet.

"Let's hope a rest does the trick. Meanwhile, I wish Mr Stoute and every one at Freemason's a hugely successful year and hope it is not too long before I am, once again, paying a significant part in the story.

Stoute himself offered his full support to the jockey who has played such a big part in the recent success of his yard.

He said. "I am deeply disappointed that Walter's weight problems have caused him to suspend his career, particularly at a time when we were all looking forward to him partnering my Classic horses.

"I have been very aware that life has been a struggle for him recently and I look forward to him coming back when the problem is under control."

While the three times Derby winning jockey stresses it is not his intention to make the retirement permanent, the announcement will cast doubt about his future in the saddle.

The last 15 months have been a traumatic time for Swinburn beginning in February of last year when he suffered a horrendous fall from Liffey River in Hong Kong.

He found himself in intensive care for a week with severe head period of recuperation.

Although his comeback at August of last year was a successful one, the joy of the victory on Talathath at Windsor was tarnished by accusations that Frankie Dettori "took it easy" on third placed Cape Pigeon.

Although he was only to ride 15 winners in Britain during the season, his lowest total since his apprentice days, Swinburn was boosted by an emotional triumph on Pilsudski in the Breeders' Cup Turf in Woodbine Canada, for Stoute in October.

In January, inspired by the fate of injured children he met in hospital in Hong Kong, Swinburn raises £60,000 for charity with a sponsored walk through Ireland.

However, last month his life once again took a downward turn when he was fined £500 and ordered to pay more than £600 in compensation after admitting assaulting a restaurant owner and damaging a glass door.

During the trial at Newmarket Magistrates Court it emerged that he was suffering from an eating disorder which reduced his tolerance of alcohol.