VLAD DURIC UNDER STARTER'S ORDERS IN BRISBANE

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Fresh from passing the landmark 700-winner total in Singapore (being only the fifth jockey to do so), Vlad Duric has arrived in Brisbane ready to enter the next phase of his career.

Duric arrived in Brisbane on Monday, was out at trackwork this morning and is expected to be in action at Doomben on Saturday.

“Singapore has been wonderful to me and my family. Unfortunately, racing is closing down there later this year ... so we have to move on,” said Duric, speaking on Racing HQ.

“I think Brisbane is a good fit for me. I’m following the warm weather a little bit and it probably marries up with what Singapore has provided in that regard ... and the workload is probably not as difficult as Melbourne and Sydney would be ... albeit I will be riding a bit more than in Singapore.

“I’m looking forward to riding a few more days a week because the gap between race meetings in Singapore is a little bit challenging at times to keep your weight under control.

“I love Queensland. I been there plenty of times ... only a handful of times to ride ... but I love it there and I’m sure I’m going to enjoy it. We’ll see how it all unfolds.

“I’ve been riding around 55.5kg in Singapore but, riding a little bit more, I’m hoping to get down to 54.5 or 55kg on a Saturday, and maybe a little bit heavier through the week.”

In spite of relocating to Brisbane, Duric, who is a multiple Group 1 winning rider, a roll of honour which includes the 2007 The Caulfield Cup where he saluted aboard Master O’Reilly, and who has also posted four Singapore Jockey Premierships behind his name, has not completely closed the door on some further involvement in Singapore racing.

“It was great reaching that 700-win mark in Singapore,” Duric told Racing HQ radio. “I’ve won most of their feature races multiple times. The only race I didn’t win was the Gold Cup.

“I possibly might go back in June and July for a couple of feature meetings in Singapore ... and possibly for the Gold Cup which comes at the end of their racing.

“I’m sure they’ll get a lot of people want to go there for that last meeting. They’ve put a lot of prize-money on and it should be a good last day.” (The last race meeting in Singapore takes place on October 5).

Not to mention that would be Duric’s last shot at that Gold Cup win. Victory there would be a fitting finale for Duric and would rubber-stamp and complete his successful Singapore riding record in the best possible way.

For now, though, Duric’s focus is firmly on establishing himself in Queensland where he will obviously be a very welcome addition to the Queensland riding ranks which seems to become more and more competitive each passing season, with a host a new arrivals having already made their mark in recent years.