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Caitlin Jones is confident she has enough time to be ready to defend the International Jockeys Challenge title she won at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh last year.
The South Australian jockey hasn't raced since September 17 due to a back injury but has been given the all clear to resume race riding on February 11.
The International Jockeys Challenge is in Saudi Arabia on February 24.
"It was a really big step forward for me in the past couple of days. I knew I was progressing well once I got back to track work but to get the bigger tick to head back to jump-outs and trials was certainly rewarding to myself, and to those who've helped get me back to this position.
"The aim is to be riding at the trials Monday the 6th at Murray Bridge and all going well I'll be looking for rides on Saturday the 11th at Morphettville," Caitlin Jones said.
After back surgery in 2019 to shave bulging discs that were rubbing on nerves, Jones was racing relatively pain free for three years before a couple of minor incidents on horses jammed her back, causing similar problems all over again.
Fortunately no surgery was required this time as the nerves weren't impacted.
"I was lucky to find my physio David Heynemen who helped me rehabilitate it really well and stabilise that area. I had to be back in the gym which isn't my favourite thing to do, as I think I do enough gym between my horses and the race track.
"Maintaining my weight was key in helping me recover from my back injury too. Obviously being a lower back you don't want to load it too much so if I get a bit too heavy it doesn't help my circumstance.
"But the gym has certainly helped, returning to track work has leaned me up and I've got better and better and I'm obviously back riding my own two horses which also helps on the side with fitness," she said.
Unlike last year when Jones was already in Dubai with Will Clarken's horses when she got the late call-up to the event, the 32-year-old will launch a fly-in and fly-out campaign.
Other riders confirmed include Frankie Dettori, Joao Moreira and Canadian Chantel Sutherland.
"The pressure will probably get to me a little bit closer to the date, I would say at the moment it's just a thrill to be invited back for a second time.
"It's obviously going to be a little bit more familiar to me this year, it was pretty overwhelming last year with everything going on and I just wanted to ride and enjoy it, and it worked out exceptionally well for me.
"I plan to take the same approach this year, and I'm a bit lucky as this time I can enjoy the few days before it like the barrier draw and the horse draw. Last time I missed all that being in Dubai as I flew in quite late but I get the whole experience this year and I'm looking forward to it.
"My aim is to take home the International Jockeys Challenge again. I can dream but at the end of the day I just have to execute as well as I can in my races and on my rides, so hopefully luck is on my side and I draw the right sort of horses again."
The event features four handicap races, each run for US $400,000 with the jockeys receiving 15% of prize money won in each of the four races.
A further US$100,000 goes to the winner of the Jockeys Challenge.
