Cullen granted dual licence
VETERAN rider Peter Cullen has become the first person in Queensland to be granted a dual jockey and trainer licence.
The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission on Wednesday granted Cullen the dual licence, which was made possible by an amendment to the Thoroughbred Licensing Scheme last month.
Cullen comes from one of the best known country racing families in Queensland.
Townsville-based Cullen has ridden about 400 winners and scored one of his most satisfying victories on his home track in Queensland’s biggest provincial sprint, the Cleveland Bay Handicap, on Grey Missile in July. He will start with a relatively small team with room for expansion.
QRIC Commissioner Ross Barnett said it had been a long held view that the associated responsibilities of each licence category were separate and distinct and allowing a partici- pant to engage in both activities was an integrity risk.
“(But) in recent years our interstate counterparts have progressively moved towards trainer/jockey dual licences with conditions,” Barnett said.
“We consulted with the jockey and trainers’ associations and have agreed that there will still be appropriate regulatory oversight for jockeys while enabling an increase in career pathways and sustainability … through the incoming dual licensing provisions.”