‘Jebel Ali Jim’: Premier jockey James Orman lands lucrative Dubai stint

Jimmy Orman earned the nickname Jebel Ali Jim the last time he rode in Dubai and he is looking to go better again when he heads there this week for a stint with former Gold Coast trainer Michael Costa.

Queensland’s premier jockey Jimmy Orman will head to Dubai this week to take up a lucrative riding contract with former Gold Coast trainer Michael Costa as he looks to build his name in the region.

Orman has inked a deal to kick off the season as Costa’s stable jockey for four meetings while regular stable jockey Ben Coen makes his way there.

Costa is Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s private trainer and has revived the famous stable in just two seasons in the job.

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It will be the second stint in Dubai for Orman, who achieved a career-best five winners in one day last time here was there.

“I rode six winners last time, I rode five in one day at Jebel Ali, so hopefully we can do that again, it was the most I have ever had in one day,” he said.

“(Michael) Costa is up there and his jockey isn’t quite set up there yet, so we teed it up that I would step in for four meetings.

“It is fair dinkum the racing up there, but it is a working holiday as well.”

Jimmy Orman will take his young family to Dubai this week. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen.

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Already a tearaway leader in the Brisbane metropolitan jockeys premiership, Orman said being away from racing in Australia for an extended period of time didn’t play into his thinking.

“It would be good to have some luck up there again, you never know what happens if you get your name up in lights there, they could bring you back for the world cup meeting next year,” he said.

“I will be away from racing here in Brisbane for probably three and a bit weeks because we are going to have a holiday in Japan after Dubai.

“We are a long way away from premierships and those things, so I am keen to get away now while the time is right and have a bit of a break, reset and come back.”

Orman and his young family will depart for Dubai on Thursday to link up with Costa.

“This will be the first day of the season that I am riding at, they only race for six months and then they have six months off,” Orman said.

“(Costa) only got beaten in the final meeting of the season earlier this year for the premiership, so he is going well.”

Originally published as ‘Jebel Ali Jim’: Premier jockey James Orman lands lucrative Dubai stint