Talented jockey Danny Beasley has confirmed that he will be returning to full-time riding in Sydney following the conclusion of the Wagga Wagga Racing Carnival.
Danny Beasley had a stint as stable jockey for Gai Waterhouse before he left Australia to take up a contract in Singapore. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Beasley left Australia at the end of 2007 to take up a riding contract in Singapore and he was able to stamp himself as one of the most consistent riders in the jurisdiction in the past seven years, but the Singapore Turf Club elected not to offer him a riding contract at the end of last year.
The veteran hoop has not done any riding since the end of last year and he spent the past five months travelling, but he told Racing Ahead that he was now feeling refreshed and ready for his return to the saddle.
“It has been a great seven years over there in Singapore, but my time finished up at the end of last year and I had a nice break away from racing,” Beasley said.
“I feel really refreshed and I am really keen to get back into it.
“I travelled a fair bit and I got right away from it all and I didn’t even really watch a race until a month ago whether it be in Singapore or Australia.
“I have been riding for 22 years and I’ve never really had a break from it and I just thought it was a good opportunity.
“I took inspiration from people in the past who at the same stage of their careers like Darren Beadman or even Damien Oliver had a break and when they came back they came back arguably better riders and riding fantastically.”
Beasley had the choice to return to full-time in either Sydney or Melbourne, but he elected to base himself in Sydney in order to be closer to his son.
The 39-year-old admits that it will be an adjustment returning to the racing every day culture of Australia after spending eight years racing just twice a week in Singapore, but he believes that he is mentally and physically ready for his return to full-time riding.
“I think I’ll be able to manage myself a lot better than what I did before I left,” Beasley said.
“I am eight-year-older and a lot wiser.
“Australia can get a bit monotonous riding every day, but my life has changed a lot in that eight days and I am in a lot different a situation then I was, so I think riding four or five days a week I will be able to handle that a lot better.
“For a whatever reason I still feel very fit and very well and very healthy, so maybe the eight years of just two days riding has helped me through.
“I still feel very fit and very keen and still have that passion for the sport.
“I hadn’t stepped on a set of scales until yesterday since my last day of riding and I was 55 spot on, so I won’t have any problems with the weight scales here in Australia.
“Once I get back into trackwork and I head back to Sydney I should be ready to ride the limit weights.
“I did think very long and hard about it and I was seriously considering Melbourne, but ultimately I have a son in Sydney and that is where I want to be.”
Beasley returned to trackwork at Wagga Wagga this morning and he is set to return to race riding at the venue next Thursday for the Wagga Wagga Gold Cup Meeting.
