|
|
The Singapore Turf Club has
granted jockey licences to Ariel Smith and Luke Currie and extend the
licence of Malcolm Pay.
American Smith is returning to Singapore with the Club granting the talented
rider a four-month freelance licence. Smith will start riding from Friday.
Smith started riding in Singapore in January this year but had to return
home for family reasons. However, he was very quick to show his talent with
two wins and a third from just seven races before his stint was cut short.
Smith is enjoying an illustrious career after winning a prestigious Eclipse
Award (USA) when crowned Champion Apprentice Jockey in 1999.
Smith rode in New York for six years and California for 18 months. He has
ridden over 250 winners since he commenced riding in 1998.
In his debut year, the 23-year-old became the only apprentice to top US$2
million in earnings and in 2004, he rode five black-type winners, including
the Lady Fingers Stakes and the Donald LeVine Memorial Handicap. He goes to
scale at 52kgs.
Experienced Melbourne jockey Currie has been granted a six-month freelance
licence by the Club and will also commence riding on Friday.
Currie has ridden 587 winners including an admirable 21 Group races, one of
them aboard Mummify, winner of the Singapore Airlines International Cup in
2005.
Despite missing the 2005 autumn carnival in Melbourne last year, as he
recovered from serious injuries sustained in a fall, Currie bounced straight
back into form during the Spring carnival and capped a successful comeback
when he rode two winners at Flemington on the biggest race day of the year.
Despite spending much of last season on the sidelines he still managed to
ride 65 winners along with 92 minor placings. The twenty-five-year-old goes
to scale at 53kgs.
Australia jockey Pay has had his freelance riding licence extended by two
months, with the popular hoop set to continue riding in Singapore until Oct
31.
Pay had ridden in Singapore prior to this most recent stint and won several
races, including a feature race win on Light Of Success in the Queen
Elizabeth II Cup in 2005.
This season, since arriving in May, Pay has ridden five winners and placed
on 16 occasions. He goes to scale at 53kgs.  |
