Global Racing by Gary Knight : 29 April 2007

Well travelled international Australian jockey Aaron “Spicky” Spiteri is set to become one of the first noteworthy Australian jockeys for many years to head to India to ride.

Spiteri who has been a journeyman throughout his career – and a very capable jockey has interspersed his Australian career with regular stints in Asia – riding many feature race winners in both Singapore and Malaysia.

Spiteri has just finished his riding stint in Singapore where his did a lot of riding for successful trainers Laurie Laxon and John Meagher and he had been back in Australia for a couple of weeks when the opportunity arose for him to take up a position as stable jockey for one of India’s leading stables.

Many years ago Aussie jockeys such as brothers Bill and Reg Cook, Edgar Britt, Alf Smith were among the leading riders in India but the sub-continent has not attracted Australian riders for many years.

Irish jockey Niall McCullough is one who spends a great deal of the Irish off-season riding in India with good success and Spiteri will be a worthy competitor for the likes of Mallesh Narredu and Prakesh – India’s leading riders.

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The Aussies and Kiwis again had a good night at the fibresand meeting at Kranji in Singapore on Friday night.

Malaysian jockey Sivan took the riding honours with a winning treble and Aussie jockey Noel Callow landed a winning double while compatriot Ronnie Stewart landed a winner and Kiwi Andrew Calder also rode a winner.

Aussie trainers Brian Dean, Stephen Burridge, John Meagher and Don Baertschiger all trained winners on the nine race card and Kiwis Laurie Laxon and Bruce Marsh also had a winner each.