Seven expatriate jockeys still remain in Singapore, and are facing another four weeks on the sidelines, at least.
They are Australia’s Vlad Duric and John Powell, Frenchmen Marc Lerner and Louis-Philippe Beuzelin, Brazilian Ruan Maia, and of course our own Juan Paul van der Merwe and Ryan Munger.
Ryan and his wife Kelsey are enjoying their first stint in Singapore and have opted to sit out the COVID-19 circuit breaker there, rather than risk returning to South Africa, where racing is in limbo.
Ryan and Kelsey Munger
A former Zimbabwe Champion, Ryan arrived in January and has settled in well and adapted to the first international contract of his career.
His previous experience off African soil was in an apprentice jockeys’ challenge in Abu Dhabi back in 2014.
“We are stuck between a rock and a hard place because racing at home is also currently not happening, so I don’t believe it would be viable to return while it is so uncertain. Here things are looking positive. The circuit breaker is set to end 1 June. So hopefully racing will be up and running again soon after that. It’s a great experience racing here and I’m planning on finishing my 12 month contract,” he said enthusiastically as he sent his best wishes for safety to his family, friends and fans back here in South Africa.
Australian jockeys Daniel Moor and Michael Rodd were the first to up stumps amid the uncertainty around the return of horse racing at Kranji since its suspension on April 7 when the Singapore government imposed a nationwide partial curfew known as “Circuit Breaker” on non-essential services in a bid to curb the spread of the pandemic.
Patrick Moloney and Alysha Collett are the latest two expatriate jockeys to have joined the growing COVID-19 induced exodus out of the country.
New Zealander Ms Collett, pictured above, was enjoying a good season in Singapore prior to racing ceasing earlier last month, sitting ninth on the premiership.
The 26-year-old is looking forward to returning to Sydney, a jurisdiction she has ridden in previously and where her jockey brother Jason plies his trade, alongside his partner, trainer Clare Cunningham.
“I still have to do the two weeks in isolation when I arrive in Sydney and Racing NSW have requested that I do extra isolation plus have a couple of tests to say that I am negative to Covid-19. I am definitely okay with that. The isolation will be boring but it is just nice to be in the process to potentially be back riding again.” We are blessed that we are able to go over to other countries and ride,” Collett told Horseracingplanet.com.
“A couple of us were granted leave that has been approved by the Turf Club. We just leave until Singapore racing is back up and running again. I’m not too sure what the South African jockeys are doing. They find out in a few weeks if South Africa is racing again but the likelihood of them going is high as well, just to keep an income.”
The current log eighth placed Moloney who heads back to Melbourne, said that as soon as the lockdown was extended, he applied for leave of absence with the Club.
Patrick Moloney
“With so much uncertainty when racing will return here, there wasn’t much point hanging around without any income and draining our finances. Instead of sitting and waiting, I’d rather be proactive; after discussing with my partner Jess, I decided it was best we go home.
“There weren’t many flights to Melbourne, but as I wanted to get back as soon as possible, I took a flight with a 15-hour layover in Doha – meaning it took me 37 hours door-to-door to reach home! I’m always keen to keep my eye-in on racing back home. I rode for a wide range of trainers before I left, so that won’t be a big worry.”
Kranji racing may resume on 1 June.
Ed – we hope to talk to JP van der Merwe on Monday
