Shane Dye back at Randwick

Internationally-acclaimed jockey Shane Dye has wasted no time getting down to business since relinquishing his Hong Kong riding licence and returning to Sydney.
The 41-year-old revealed his shock plans to head back to Australia late last week after eight years riding in Hong Kong.
Dye signalled he was serious about making an immediate impact in Sydney, heading out to Randwick trackwork on Tuesday morning and putting several of trainer Graeme Rogerson's team through their paces.
Rogerson and Dye, who both hail from New Zealand, have enjoyed great success over the years with their feature wins including the 1997 AJC Australian Derby with Ebony Grosve.
"He rode eight for me in work this morning. He looks fit and well," Rogerson said.
"He's riding a few nice horses for me at the Randwick trials on Friday as well."
Dye is currently serving a careless riding suspension incurred in Hong Kong and can return to the saddle on March 2.
Rogerson said he would have no hesitation putting Dye on his horses and predicted the flamboyant hoop would make an immediate impact in Sydney.
"For sure, he's a world-class rider," Rogerson said.
"We've had a good association and we've won a lot of big races together."
While Dye has handed in his Hong Kong licence for this season he has left the door open for a return, telling the South China Morning Post he was primarily heading to Sydney to get his fitness back on track.
Dye said a combination of injuries and suspensions meant he was lacking "match practice" and unable to ride enough in Hong Kong to get his form back to where he wanted it.
He believed Sydney's busier racing program would give him the foundation to return to his top.
He is also keen to spend more time with his sons, Nicholas and Jack, who both live in Sydney.
"I'm going back to Sydney for the rest of this season, but I will be applying for a Hong Kong licence again," Dye told the South China Morning Post.
"At my age, I'm not riding often enough to get back to being properly fit. With two meetings a week and a handful of trials a week, it won't happen in Hong Kong."
Dye, who suffered life-threatening injuries and required emergency brain surgery following a horror fall at Sha Tin in June 2006, has had a below-par season in Hong Kong as a result of his setbacks, riding just seven winners.
He has never won the Hong Kong jockeys' premiership but was runner-up to Douglas Whyte three times in 2002-04.
The Big G
HOME PAGE