Angry Digger Ready To Quit Australian Racing

Newcastle Herald

Thursday May 31, 2007

GEOFF WILSON RACING

DISILLUSIONED Newcastle jockey Darryl McLellan has applied for a licence to ride in Macau and declared yesterday that he "would not ride again in Australia in the near future".

The dual group 1-winning rider made his decision after being refused permission to compete at Wyong on Tuesday.

"I have had a gutful, and what happened on Tuesday was the straw that broke the camel's back," McLellan said.

"I have spoken to the leading Macau trainer Patrick Lee, who I rode for when I was last over there.

"I got the OK from him, so I have sent in an application for a licence in Macau. If I don't get it, then I will just sit pat and not ride here until I get something overseas.

"I don't want to go, I don't want to leave my wife and kids, but this is my only way of showing how disillusioned I am. I have been kicked in the guts for the last time here."

McLellan's tale of woe started when he could not fulfil his riding obligations in Sydney on Saturday. He then had to produce a medical certificate to stewards at Wyong on Tuesday before he could be cleared to ride.

"We informed Darryl that a medical certificate was needed, and the Racing NSW office of stewards contacted his manager to reinforce that instruction," said Racing NSW steward Alan Reardon, who was in charge of the Wyong meeting.

"Darryl turned up late and said he had the clearance but had left it at home.

"By the letter of the law, we could not let him ride."

Reardon said stewards were only applying the rules when they stood McLellan down.

"We wanted him to take his rides, but unfortunately he was the one who left the important medical certificate at home," Reardon said.

"We asked him if there was anyone at his home who could fax it to us and he said that was not possible, and we then asked if he could get the doctor to ring us, but that did not happen."

McLellan said he had heard of other jockeys being allowed to ride if they faxed the clearance later that day.

"I asked for the ambulancemen to clear me they pick us up off the track when we fall and take care of us but that was denied," McLellan said. "I was told to go home, so I did, and I don't want to come back.

"I was ready to ride that day, but since then I had an allergic reaction to the treatment, so I didn't ride at Canterbury today [Wednesday] and I won't ride at Hawkesbury tomorrow [Thursday]. I don't know when I will ride in Sydney or for that matter Australia again."

Macau chief steward Michael Beattie confirmed McLellan was applying for a licence.

"He is sending in an application and it will be processed at the next licensing committee meeting," Beattie said. "It is up to them if he gets a licence here."

Lee is eighth in the Macau trainers premiership on 27 wins.

McLellan rode for Lee for 10 months during the 2003-2004 season. He had 62 winners from 477 rides, and on his last day in Macau he rode a winning double.

"Patrick Lee is one of the best Chinese trainers in our district," Beattie said.

"If he wants Digger back here, then he must be confident McLellan is in form and keen to ride here again."

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home