Spencer links up with Qatar Racing for return
It was expected that Trade Storm’s seventh in the Longines Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin on Sunday last would bring the curtain down on Spencer’s career, but only a few hours later the 34-year-old
surprised the racing world by announcing that he would continue riding as a freelance.
By staying in the saddle the two-time British champion jockey turned down a management role for Qatar Racing Ltd. With his contract as retained jockey for Qatar not being renewed, Spencer will now ride as a freelance.
Announcing the retirement U-turn on Sunday, he stressed there was no falling out between himself and Sheikh Fahad Al Thani and his brothers. That is evidenced by his two rides today, which will be in the Qatar Racing silks.
At Lingfield, Spencer will ride Master Of Irony, who makes his
debut in a 7f juvenile maiden. He then heads to Kempton to partner another two-year-old maiden, the Ralph Beckett-trained Hurricane Alert.
Back in August Spencer made the shock announcement that he would stop riding at the end of the year, but he has found the lure of race riding too powerful to walk away from and said: “I am very much looking forward to being entirely free and available for the first time in six seasons and developing new associations. I have no specific targets other than to continue to be successful.”
