Dittman to return ?

[VINCENT]

Sydney Morning Herald: Oct 16.
Champion jockey Mick Dittman is set to return to the saddle in Macau. Dittman has never officially retired but for the past 16 months has been based in Asia. Several months ago he had an application to become a trainer in Singapore knocked back. News out of Macau yesterday was that Dittman had applied for a licence to ride in the former Portuguese colony and that it would be approved within weeks. "I'm just getting a bit bored," was the only comment from Dittman.

[poledancer]

Coutesy of www.racenet.com.au (http://www.racenet.com.au)
Dittman granted Macau licence
Champion Australian jockey Mick Dittman has been granted a licence to ride in Macau from next January.
Dittman who officially announced his retirement from race riding on Brisbane Cup day this year when he was an ambassador for the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival was disappointed by the decision of Singapore officials not to grant him a trainers licence recently and confirmed to Tony Clements on Brisbane Radio TAB this morning that he had applied to ride in Macau and has been granted a three month licence for next January, February and March.
Dittman said he was getting a little bit bored sitting around and doing nothing. I wanted to do something and thought I would try my hand in Macau. I am a long way off riding fitness but have started doing a bit of walking and getting back onto a diet which is probably just what I need.?
Dittman who has been building a training complex at Canungra in the Gold Coast hinterland indicated that he would again apply for a trainers licence in the future.

[imaufo]

Mick Dittman will resume his riding career with a three-month stint in Macau from February 1. Dittman, who saddled up his first runner as a trainer during the Melbourne spring carnival, has already begun riding trackwork in Macau.

[cheesebeast]

Tuesday, 8 April 2003: Mick Dittman’s riding comeback in Macau is over with the champion Australian jockey relinquishing his riding licence.

Dittman cited personal reasons for his decision and is expected to return to Queensland where he may again pursue a training career.

Dittman retired from riding last year but made a surprise decision to return to the saddle when he was offered a visiting jockey’s licence by the Macau Jockey Club in January.

However his comeback has been a struggle as he has ridden only two winners and 12 minor placegetters from 36 rides in Macau.

Dittman turned to training in Queensland last year after failing to secure a training licence in Singapore.

He had developed a lavish training complex near the Gold Coast but that property was placed on the market when he decided to return to riding in Macau.

Expressions of interest for the property closed at the end of March.

Meanwhile the Macau Jockey Club has granted Visiting Jockey's License to Brisbane’s Jim Byrne and popular Newcastle jockey Darryl McLellan for the Taipa race meetings on April 12 and 15.

Byrne has been among Macau’s leading riders over the past two years but it will be the first visit for McLellan.