Popular weighing room figure and well-established UK jockey Pat Cosgrave has left to embark on a new riding career in Saudi Arabia.
The multiple Group 1 winning rider had ridden 173 winners in the UK and Ireland across the last five seasons and already has experience riding abroad following successful top-level raids in both Germany and Australia.
The 41-year-old, who is no stranger to success in the Middle East having landed the Red Sea Turf Handicap at Riyadh on Gifts Of Gold on Saudi Cup Night in 2021, will become the retained rider for 2022 Saudi Cup-winning owner Prince Saud Bin Salman Abdulaziz's.
Cosgrave said: "I'd only been back from Dubai (back in March) for a couple of weeks and was approached by Prince Saud Bin Salman Abdulaziz's team about the opportunity.
"I knew how successful their operation was over there, particularly given they won the Saudi Cup back in 2022 with Emblem Road, but it was a tricky time to make a decision as racing was just getting going again in the UK.
"I thought about it for a little while and decided it was a good thing to do. The racing, as well as other sports in Saudi, seem to be getting bigger and better every year and it's an exciting time to be getting involved."
He added: "I have been going along OK in the UK. There were a couple of silly incidents that put me on the sidelines for a bit, but overall, I was doing well, winning some decent handicaps and operating at a good strike rate.
"I was riding winners for the likes of George Boughey, Richard Hughes, George Baker and Jim Boyle, so things were going OK, and they were looking after me well, but it feels like the racing in Saudi is really progressing and I think it's a great opportunity to take."
The Irish 2003 champion apprentice is not the only well-established member of the weighing room to be making a move abroad, with Andrea Atzeni having been granted a part-season licence by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Atzeni's licence will run from July 17th until February 12th next year and the Sardinian-born 29-time Group 1 winning rider is expected to be in Hong Kong for the start of the new season at Sha Tin on September 10th.
