Ten fit and able jockeys are plagued by parasites (4-6)

I believe the answer is:

flea-bitten

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'plagued by parasites' is the definition.
The answer and definition are not the same part of speech. However, adjectives and past participle verbs can sometimes define each other.

'ten fit and able jockeys' is the wordplay.
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'jockeys' is an anagram indicator.
'ten'+'fit'='tenfit'
'tenfit' put after 'able' is 'abletenfit'.
'abletenfit' is an anagram of 'FLEA-BITTEN'.

'are' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for flea-bitten that I've seen before include "Shabby - run-down" , "Tatty - infested with parasites" , "Dilapidated, shabby" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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