Irish jockeys to hone their craft in Australia A quartet of Irish jockeys are set for a stint in Australia at the end of the Flat season next Sunday. Ben Coen, Jamie Powell, Mikey Sheehy and Scott McCullagh will make the trip Down Under for track work and the possibility of some rides while honing their craft. After riding his 50th winner of the season at Dundalk last night, Coen told Racing TV: "I'm off to Australia for a couple of months. Johnny (Murtagh) has organised me to go to Chris Waller and Gai Waterhouse for two months. "I'm really looking forward to that - I will get to learn loads and hopefully get to ride some track work and see how that goes. "Even if Johnny has a horse to go over there in the near future, I will get the feel of the place. Riding work with those top lads for those top trainers, you are only going to learn and improve so I can't wait to get out there. "Hopefully I will get a few rides out there. If I get the rides, I will definitely take them. "The four of us are heading away - we have been restricted and couldn't get away the last couple of winters. We are going to different trainers but at least we know people out there." Powell was the subject of this week's racing story - https://www.irishracing.com/blog-item/Jamie-Powell/236608 - and said: "You always have to be striving to improve especially in this game. I'm going out to work for trainer Mark Newnham in Sydney. I'm going to ride a bit, but not plenty. I'm going to try and mind my claim a bit for next year. It's just mainly for the track work. I'll stay with Robbie (Dolan, cousin) for maybe the first week, Mark has an apartment for me out there. "I'm going to ride in Ireland until the last day of the season. I fly out to Australia on the 7th (November), the day after the season ends. I should be back in early February in time to give the new season a crack. I think when I come back, I'm going to try and give the champion apprentice a go - there are so many good riders that are claiming so it will be hard, but I'll do my best."
