A former Melbourne champion jockey is calling Kranji his new home these days, but don't expect to see his name featured among the Singapore riding ranks any time soon, reports the Singapore Turf Club.It says: Nick Ryan, who won the Melbourne jockey's premiership in 2004/2005 as an apprentice, establishing a new Victorian record of 165 wins in one season, retired from race-riding 10 months ago after losing his well-documented battle with rising weight.The 22-year-old, who is part of an elite band
A former Melbourne champion jockey is calling Kranji his new home these days, but don't expect to see his name featured among the Singapore riding ranks any time soon, reports the Singapore Turf Club.
It says: Nick Ryan, who won the Melbourne jockey's premiership in 2004/2005 as an apprentice, establishing a new Victorian record of 165 wins in one season, retired from race-riding 10 months ago after losing his well-documented battle with rising weight.
The 22-year-old, who is part of an elite band of only three apprentices (other two are Darren Gauci and Damien Oliver) to have won the Melbourne senior title in the last 50 years, would have been lost to racing, if not for a phone call from former Victorian trainer Cliff Brown.
"It was getting harder for me as the wasting was taking its toll on my fitness. I didn't know what to do next and was even considering joining the construction industry," said Ryan, whose meteoric rise to stardom plummeted soon after into a stop-start career that included two failed comeback bids in the saddle.
"Cliff had actually asked me two years ago to join him in Singapore to be his stable jockey, but that fell through...After his assistant-trainer Chris Bock decided to leave, Cliff rang me up again a few months back and asked me if I was interested with the job....I've always liked Singapore and opportunities like this don't come by twice. I didn't hesitate a second."
Ryan lived in Singapore for a while when his stepfather bloodstock agent Jeff Gordon was based here a few years ago. He also rode at Kranji back in 2006 on a short stint that yielded two winners - Lion City Emperor and King And Infinite.
"It's great to work for Cliff as I already knew him well from my riding days in Australia," said Ryan, who took up his new position about two weeks ago.
"I ride work for him and also act as his stable supervisor. The stable is doing very well and I am definitely looking forward to next year."
Into only his second full year, Brown wrapped up the just-concluded Singapore season in 12th spot with 34 winners, achieving the third-best strike rate of 11.8%.
"It's been a fantastic season for us," said Brown at Sunday's final race meeting. "The first half took a while to get going, but we've been on a nice streak in the second half.
"We're glad to have Nick on board with us. He's a nice young bloke who was a fine talent as a jockey and I'm sure he will also do well in his new role at the stable."