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Nugent back in the saddle on Saturday

Published:Tuesday | September 7, 2021 | 12:09 AMRobert Bailey/STAR Writer -
Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer WEEKEND JAZZ, ridden by Oshane Nugent, wins the seventh race at Caymanas Park, on Saturday, November 21, 2020.
Anthony Minott
Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer WEEKEND JAZZ, ridden by Oshane Nugent, wins the seventh race at Caymanas Park, on Saturday, November 21, 2020.

Lerone Lee, agent of top-claiming apprentice Oshane ‘Johnny’ Nugent, says the 27-year-old rider is expected to return to the track on Saturday.

Nugent, one of the most popular riders at the track, will be making his return to Caymanas Park after completing a 14-day suspension.

“He is very excited to be back because he enjoys riding,” said Lee. “He has been at the racetrack from a tender age and this is all he knows because he doesn't know how to make a shoe, he doesn't know how to make a cake and all he knows is riding. I think from Saturday and beyond we are looking for bigger and better things from Oshane,” he said.

Nugent was handed the suspension in October 2020 for intimidation and interference during the fifth race on Sunday, September 27, 2020. PRIMAL FEAR, with Nugent aboard, passed the post first but was later disqualified following a stewards inquiry and placed out of the race for causing an incident which resulted in the fall of two horses while two riders were dislodged from their mounts.

The top apprentice appealed the stewards' decision and was allowed to ride pending the outcome of his appeal.

However, Nugent sustained a head injury on Ash Wednesday this year and was out of action for more than three months. Shortly after he resumed riding in May, the stewards' decision to suspend him for 14 race days was upheld by the Jamaica Racing Commission.

Lee underscored that the lengthy suspension has taken a toll on Nugent, but he has been receiving a lot of support from persons within the racing industry.

“Mentally, he seems to be drained after the long suspension but the duty of an agent is to always try to keep the jockey focused and that is what I am doing. I know that come Saturday he will be mentally prepared to ride,” he said.

“Fourteen days suspension is like two months without pay and I know that it was very heartbreaking for him because he actually cried after getting suspended,” Lee said. Nugent, who began riding in December 2019, has ridden 55 wins in his career.