Gundogdu Comeback Could Be At The Valley
- Wednesday, 21 July 2010 02:19
Forgotten apprentice Ibrahim Gundogdu is on the verge of making his comeback to competitive race-riding.
Gundogdu, 22, could ride at Moonee Valley this Saturday for the first time in just under a year.
The Turkish-born jockey has been forced to stand down from professional riding since August last year while he sought permanent residency in Australia.
What was first thought to be only a two month wait quickly turned into a bureaucratic mess, with Gundogdu unable to gain permanent residency until only recently.
“One of the things we’ve been waiting for the results of a police check,” Ibrahim’s manager Craig Dickson said before adding, “He had a police check when he came into the country so it was just ridiculous.”
A decision on whether Gundogdu will be able to ride at Moonee Valley will be made on Thursday afternoon by the Racing Victoria licensing committee.
Dickson told the Virtual Formguide Gundogdu’s master Mick Kent is keen to enlist his services in Saturday’s $70,000 Travis Harrison Cup (1514m), a race restricted to apprentice riders only.
Kent has nominated Clandon for the race and Gundogdu has ridden the six-year-old mare 17 times for six wins and seven placings.
Clandon’s last win is Gundogdu’s last Saturday metropolitan victory at the corresponding fixture last season.
Should the committee not allow Gundogdu to ride this Saturday, he is expected to return on August 1 meaning he would have missed the entire 2009/10 season.
Consequently, the committee is expected to extend his apprenticeship by a year to allow for his absence.
That’s not to suggest Gundogdu hasn’t kept himself busy throughout the period.
“He’s been working for Mick each day so he hasn’t had a lot of time off,” Dickson said.
Gundogdu will be able to claim two kilos in the metropolitan area upon his return.
Pictures: Colin Bull
