There are only three new additions to the jockey roster for the final season of racing in Singapore in 2024, with a total of 32 riders granted licenses.
The three additions to the roster are Ryan Curatolo, and two apprentice jockeys named Sazali Ramli and Chong Shin Wah.
Curatolo will reportedly make his comeback to Kranji in March following the Dubai racing season. The Frenchman is no stranger to Kranji, having ridden here throughout 2016 and 2017, where he booted home 35 winners.
Apprentice Sazali Ramli had a brief stint in 2015 and 2016, riding one winner in 31 rides for his former master, ex-trainer Michael Clements. Sazali will kick off his next stint with trainer Steven Burridge.
Chong Shin Wah is Donna Logan’s new apprentice and has never ridden in a race before, but has been a regular at the barrier trials.
The remaining 29 riders are divided into two groups: 20 seniors, comprising seven expatriates and 13 locals, along with nine apprentice jockeys, all of whom rode in the 2023 season.
Among the expats, Ronnie Stewart’s name is there and he could make a comeback depending how things playout for him back in Australia, while just like Curatolo, Bernardo Pinheiro is expected to return once Dubai finishes up in March.
However, there remains a hint of uncertainty regarding the enduring strength of the jockey roster as it embarks on its final year of racing.
Following Shafrizal Saleh’s recent departure to the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Conghua training facility as a work rider, it’s evident that riders are strategizing their next moves and may not complete the entire year.
