After a ten year gap, jockey Ronnie Stewart is heading back to Singapore where he previously plied his trade for a six year period from 2006 to 2011.
The move for the highly accomplished rider, who has been based in Brisbane in recent years, is based on both professional and personal motivation as Stewart explains.
“I’ve got a little daughter now. She is one-and-a-half. My wife Cheryl is Singaporean and, because of Covid, it hasn’t been possible for her side of the family to meet our daughter. It will be nice for them to meet each other. They couldn’t come to visit before. I know they can come now, but Singapore is a bit more central in terms of the fact that we’ve got family around the world.
“I put in the application to ride there a little while ago. I think it is just good for the family.
“And then … with the riding … I enjoy riding there. I’ve had a bit of luck in the past. I think it is going to be quite a competitive season next year and, after winning the Group 1 Sydney Cup and riding in the Melbourne Cup, I thought it was a good time to make the move and to try and progress my career over there.
“I haven’t linked up with any trainer or owners over there yet … but I do know a good seventy-five percent of the trainers. Even a lot of the new trainers were assistant trainers when I was there before, and they have progressed up the ladder to be trainers in their own right now.
“No doubt, I will start to get in contact with them soon to see where they stand with riders … but, at the end of the day, I have just got to get over there, work hard and try to get a couple of winners early.
“Like anywhere in Asia, you need a bit of luck early to kick off well and then hopefully go on from there. I’ll be working hard at trying to step back into where I was when I left.
“It is a different way of looking at it for me now. Last time, when I went there, I was very young. I was only one year out of my apprenticeship.
“Singapore was very good to me then and I think it works very well again now for both my family and my racing.
“It’s still a big move. I’ve got a one year license which kicks in on January 1.
“I’d love to say I will be there from day one, but the finalising of all the paperwork does take time … and when I can start riding will all depend on when that all goes through.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
