Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne has expressed disbelief and frustration after being told she will not be able to ride in NSW because she holds a dual training-and-riding licence in Victoria.
"Are they serious?" she asked in a tweet after the ruling.
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Racing authorities permit dual licence holders, who are registered both as a jockey and as a trainer, to ride in Victoria, South Australia and some parts of Queensland. But Racing NSW's policy does not permit dual licence holders to ride, recognising them only as trainers.
Not allowed to ride in NSW because of dual license. Are they serious?
— Michelle Payne (@mj_payne) October 4, 2016
"It is not about the individual, it is about integrity," Racing NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel said. "We don't issue that type of licence in NSW and it is policy that we do not recognise it as a riding licence.
"The reasons are stated in our policy but on race day there is a clear difference in responsibilities for jockeys and trainers and Racing NSW feels you do one job or another.
"A jockey has to be in the jockeys' room when the horse is being saddled and that holds some concern under the rules in our opinion."
Payne will have her first runner as a trainer on Thursday at Cranbourne. where she has prepared Queen Of Zealand, which she will also will ride in the opening race.
Having become the first woman to ride a Melbourne Cup winner, when she won last year on 100-1 outsider Prince Of Penzance, Payne has moved into a transition period of her career with the dual licence.
She considered retiring completely from riding after a horror fall at Mildura in May.
Payne, who has ridden two winners from nine rides since her return from pancreatic surgery after the fall, is hoping to pick up a light ride in the Caulfield Cup.
"I've been asking Ciaron Maher about Set Square," Payne said."I think she's got a really good chance with a light weight. Since my injury I've been really light, so hopefully something might spring my way."
with AAP