Jason Waddell granted MRA licence

SINGAPORE,  12 May 2005

Former champion New Zealand apprentice Jason Waddell, who has done remarkably well since his arrival in July last year, is now a full-fledged jockey and has been granted an expatriate jockey's licence by the Malayan Racing Association last week.

Despite riding for only just over five months last year, Waddell chalked up 25 winners to finish seventh in the table with a strike rate of 17%.

He was later granted a six-month extension to his riding licence by the Singapore Turf Club and remained indentured to trainer Laurie Laxon until April 25.

This season, Waddell had booted home 15 winners and lies third in the table, eight behind leading jockey Mark Du Plessis.