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Jockey John Powell has relinquished his jockey’s licence in Singapore with effect from July 31, 2021.

The veteran Australian jockey took a three-month sabbatical leave in May this year to fly to Sydney to visit his family and allow for his shoulder pain to heal. Powell also revealed then that he might not return to Singapore.

The 51-year-old has plied his trade at Kranji since 2005, the year he won the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby on longshot Hello And Goodbye for Bruce Marsh's inaugural winner since the Kiwi trainer moved from New Zealand to Singapore. Prior to that, Powell had shorter stints at Bukit Timah in 1996 and 1997, booting home nine winners.

Powell, who rode mainly for Don Baertschiger and in latter years, his son Shane, has ridden all-up 640 winners in Singapore, including 17 at Group level, notably three Group 1s. Besides Hello And Good in the Singapore Derby, he recaptured the glamour race with Clint in 2011 and also won the Kranji Mile aboard Waikato in 2009.

Currently ranked 19th on the jockey's premiership with six wins in 58 rides, Powell's last win at Kranji came aboard Golden Flame for Donna Logan on March 27. He last rode at the Lion City Cup meeting on April 24 with his last ride Surpass Natural running ninth in the Group 1 1200m event itself.