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After a rather long wait, Patrick Moloney can finally make his 2020 debut as a full-term licensed expat jockey at Kranji this weekend.
The 26-year-old Australian jockey is one of a trio of new jockeys given the nod to ply their trade in Singapore at the newly-launched season, with the other two being Brazilian jockey Ruan Maia and South African jockey Ryan Munger.
While the kickoff point would ideally have been the first meeting on New Year's Day, the lengthy processing of their work permits has kept them chomping at the bit.
Moloney, who just like Maia, is not entirely new as he had two brief stints at Kranji last year - a one-month stay at Kranji from 29 July to 31 August 2019 (four winners and 11 placings in 42 rides) and a one-day visit on Singapore Gold Cup day - was the first to finally get the green light on Friday. It is understood Maia's work permit followed suit on Monday while Munger's is still pending.
Once the good news came through, the former Melbourne champion apprentice jockey (2016/2017), who rode his last Victorian winner Rich And Rare at Stony Creek on Thursday, packed his bags and duly landed at Changi Airport on Monday.
"I was told I had my visa on Friday. I was meant to ride at Cranbourne that night but the meeting was abandoned, the next day I told my agent to stop booking rides for me," he said.
"I did my medical today and I was told I should be able to ride trackwork by Wednesday. I've already got rides for the weekend, five on Friday and two on Saturday.
"I'm not quite sure who they are, but I know trainers like Lee Freedman, Cliff Brown, Donna Logan, Ricardo Le Grange and Stephen Gray have booked me.
"They are pretty much the same trainers I rode for last time, but IF'm looking at opening other doors from others like Michael Clements and Shane Baertschiger.
"I'm here to freelance and hope to hit the ground running as soon as possible."
Moloney said the benefit of previous work experience at Kranji will definitely help him slot into the local landscape better, but the 430-odd-race winner, including 10 at Group and Listed level, said he had more "up his sleeve" he wanted to showcase.
"My goal is to obviously ride as many winners as I possibly can, while making new connections and building on the old ones," said the son of Caulfield trainer Gerard Moloney.
"I did well at my last stay, but I still want to showcase how good a rider I can be. I'm still young and have nowhere near reached my full potential.
"Long-term, the mindset is different. Last time, I was only scraping the surface, this time I'm staying on a longer stint and want to make the most of the good opportunities and make full use of the artillery up my sleeve."
Moloney is conscious he got through a little by default. His application was first denied, only to be reopened and approved after fellow Victorian Ben Thompson, already granted a one-year licence in 2020, decided to pull the pin.
But he doesn't see himself as a pinch-hitter or wild card being thrown a lifeline, just someone who was dealt the right card at the right time.
"I was disappointed when I didn't get through, but I just had to keep my head down and my bum up," he said.
"I could only carry on working hard back home, but when the cards fell my way, I jumped straight at it. I was so excited when the offer came up as I really enjoyed my month here and the one-off meeting for the Gold Cup.
"I see myself as a long-term fit here."
