Racing: Job offer for Quinn

(First Edition)

RICHARD QUINN is in the running to land a lucrative contract to ride in Hong Kong from September. Quinn, currently fifth in the jockeys' table with 67 winners this season, said yesterday he had been approached to join one of the colony's leading trainers, Gary Ng.

The 31-year-old Scot said: 'The job has been offered to myself and Paul Eddery, and I've made no decision what to do.' Eddery, however, denied that he had been approached and it appears that the job is Quinn's if he wants it.

Frankie Dettori was Ng's first choice, but the Italian's licence application was turned down by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club. Willie Ryan then agreed terms only to have a change of mind last week, preferring instead to stay with Henry Cecil.

Quinn, who served his apprenticeship in 1981 with Paul Cole, remains stable jockey to the Whatcombe trainer. His big races successes include Snurge in the 1990 St Leger and Generous in the Dewhurst Stakes same year.

The following year he suffered a major setback when Cole's principal patron Fahd Salman, signed up Alan Munro. It meant Quinn lost the ride on dual Derby winner Generous.

He has earned widespread admiration for putting himself among the top rank of jockeys after losing out on the Salman contract.