Four jockeys including champion jockey Joao Moreira have been granted a one-year extension to their licences by the Singapore Turf Club to ride till the end of 2012.

Frenchman Olivier Placais will have his licence renewed for sixth months while two Australians, Vlad Duric and Ronnie Stewart, will bid farewell to Singapore racing after they withdrew their applications to renew their licences which expire on Dec 31.

Moreira, 28, the reigning Singapore champion jockey who rode a record 116 winners last year, is will on his way to another record season, having ridden 145 winners thus far this season and is 64 winners ahead of second-placed Duric.

Duric’s departure comes as a surprise as he had done exceptionally well since coming to Singapore, finishing seventh in 2009 and second last year.