Jockey Amirul Ismadi never got a chance to ride in Singapore as a senior jockey two years ago, but he finally gets it as he takes his first rides under that status on Saturday.

He was all poised to become a full-fledged jockey after securing a six-month licence at the start of the 2020 season, but a four-month suspension for not riding Romantic to the satisfaction of the stewards in November 2019 derailed those plans.

With the appeal unsuccessful, Amirul had to stay on the sidelines till mid-May 2020.

The suspension of racing at Kranji from April to July during the COVID-19 Circuit Breaker period did not help matters. The Ipoh-born rider was left with no other option but to fall back on his side business and a return to racing back in Malaysia last year to sustain a livelihood.

"After the suspension, I tried to apply to come back as a senior track rider and I had to get the support of trainers, but many of them were cutting costs (during the Circuit Breaker)," said the 28-year-old jockey who won back-to-back Group 1 Perak Derbies in 2015 and 2016 aboard Littlebitofjoy.

"I ran my own small Autobacs car wash business in Malaysia to get by. I also tried to apply for a licence here in early 2021, but I was told to try next year instead.

"Then, I got my licence in Malaysia last year, so I began to travel between Ipoh and Penang for race rides.

"It was not easy to travel in between different states in Malaysia because of COVID-19, but I was able to produce official documents to the authorities with the help of the local racing clubs, so they allowed me to travel.

"Before racing in Ipoh and Penang stopped for a few months (between June and October), I won four races, but when I resumed riding after that, I lost my momentum a little."

The son of jockey-turned-trainer Ismadi Ismail and nephew of former Malaysian multiple-champion jockey Azhar Ismail rode in 49 races across Perak Turf Club and Penang Turf Club. His last race came on the Evert van Breukelen-trained Master Jiangmen in Ipoh in a Class 4 race on January 2.

Granted a one-year licence by the Singapore Turf Club for the current season, Amirul, who now sports a new look with a thin moustache, was back at his old stomping ground two weeks ago and has kept himself busy by reconnecting with old ties at Kranji. 

He was seen aboard Gold Strike in a barrier trial on Thursday morning, in which the Tan Kah Soon-trained gelding ran last to Heartening Flyer.

"My wife, Ruqha, and I stayed with my family in Ipoh when I rode in Malaysia. So looking at the brighter side of things, I got to spend quality time with them," said Amirul, who tied the knot in December 2019 after spending three years in Singapore as an apprentice jockey indentured to trainer Stephen Gray.

"But my heart was still with Singapore racing. I kept in contact with some of my friends like CC (Wong Chin Chuen), Simon (Kok Wei Hoong) and a few local boys, so I know the situation here too.

"I re-applied for a Singapore licence somewhere in June/July last year. I was hopeful, yet I didn't want to get my hopes too high up, because I didn't want to be disappointed either.

"It was only in November last year that I knew I got it when I saw the news of the jockeys' licences and I saw my photo in it. I literally jumped for joy!

"I am thankful to the Club for the opportunity. I never thought I'd get a year, maybe at most half a year.

"I actually told myself two years ago, that if I get the licence again, I want to make the most out of it.

"I came back on January 30 via the VTL (Vaccinated Travel Lane). There was no need for quarantine.

"Now, I ride trackwork mainly for Steven Burridge, Stephen Gray and Tan Kah Soon. My fitness is good now. You just have to go out there, spread your wings around and work hard. 

"I am lucky to have three rides on Saturday from Jerome Tan and Tim Fitzsimmons though I have not ridden for them at Kranji before. I will look forward to my first rides on Saturday."

Amirul will be riding Beer Garden for Tan - for whom he rode in Malaysia in 2014 and 2015 when Tan was still based in Penang - in the opener, and Black Taipan and Gold City for Fitzsimmons.