Doyle to return in search of Club Jockey stint
English ace Brett Doyle will return from Newmarket to face the Jockey Club's licensing committee on October 17 along with trainer Andy Leung Ting-wah.
That is the latest twist in the on-going saga of the split between Doyle and Leung which is not directly linked to the 12-day ban being served by the jockey after a failed appeal last week.
Doyle was advised before his departure to England of the meeting and said he would be happy to return. Although ready to leave Leung - in fact it is understood papers have already been signed - Doyle would like to continue in Hong Kong, preferably as a Club jockey.
Chief stipendiary steward, John Schreck, said yesterday: 'Both parties will be at the October 17 meeting and it will be up to the licensing committee to determine what course to take. Given the precedents established, if the retainer has broken down it is a bit difficult to fix it up again.
'If the agreement is finished and Mr Leung wants a new jockey, it becomes more interesting. There is his record which, in the case of keeping jockeys, could be better. The licensing committee would then have to approve him getting another jockey. If that was granted, there would then have to be approval for the suitability of the jockey submitted to ride in Hong Kong,' added Schreck.
Meanwhile, there is likely to be a temporary shortage of jockeys following the four-day ban handed down to talented Australian rider Corey Brown at the conclusion of Wednesday's Sha Tin meeting.
The ban was expected as Brown had clearly barged his way out on runner-up Joyful Star who narrowly failed to peg back Chuk Way in the opening event on the programme.
Brown was slapped with a four-day ban which starts after tomorrow's mixed meeting at Sha Tin.
