Racing Victoria have rejected apprentice jockey Jake Noonan's application to be relicensed on medical advice
Apprentice jockey Jake Noonan has once again been refused the opportunity to resume his riding career after Racing Victoria (RVL) rejected his application to be relicensed.
Noonan was the victim of a horrific race fall in May that left him in hospital with temporary paralysis and significant brain injuries.
Racing Victoria informed the apprentice’s father and master, Tony Noonan, of their decision at their headquarters on Friday.
Jake Noonan will now be forced to wait until he passes another cognitive test that will be scheduled in one month’s time.
The young jockey sat the same test last week but was found to be below normal in one area.
Racing Victoria’s senior executive Bernard Saundry said that the decision to delay Noonan’s comeback was in the interest of his personal safety.
“Our medical advice, through (RVL’s medical consultant) Gary Zimmerman, hasn’t cleared him to ride,” Saundry said.
“And ultimately the welfare of Jake is our No. 1 priority.
“I know Tony and Jake are concerned, but until Gary says he’s right to ride we can’t let him ride.
“Tony said to me that Jake is riding in trackwork and trials but, based on medical advice, they are different circumstances to riding on race day.”
This latest setback comes as blow to Noonan’s hopes of being a prominent spring presence on the track during the Melbourne carnival.
“Jake’s referring specialist signed off on Jake five weeks ago and since then he’s ridden trackwork every morning here, at Caulfield for Peter Moody and at Flemington for John Sadler,” trainer Tony Noonan said.
“And he’s ridden in jumpouts at Mornington, Flemington and Caulfield, and ridden in more than 50 trials at Cranbourne.
“But all that is irrelevant as far as Racing Victoria is concerned and irrelevant to him as far as riding in a race.”
Jake Noonan is now expected to embark on a working holiday to Europe, where he will attempt to keep up his race fitness until he is granted permission to ride in competition in Victoria.
