Nine Australian jockeys take on internationals HONG KONG By Chris Roots The jockeys' room at Sha Tin on Sunday may quite easily be mistaken for Randwick or Flemington as no less than nine Australian riders saddle up on Hong Kong International Races day. 
There are only three horses - Preferment, Lucia Valentina and Criterion - flying the flag for Australia, but the jockeys are in demand with their reputations of being among the best in the world.
There is no disputing the king of Hong Kong is Brazilian Joao Moreira, who makes frequent trips to Australia for group 1s, but leading the chasers are Zac Purton and Brett Prebble, who sit second and third on the jockeys' premiership.
"It is good to see the boys again," Purton said. "We see quite a bit of each other these days because we are travelling more as jockeys but you notice there more Aussie boys around.
"There are four of us up here at the moment [on contract] and, out of nine of 10 western jockeys, it is a good number to have and shows how well thought of we are.
"Hong Kong racing in general is very similar to Australia, so it is easy for someone coming from home to fit in and adapt here.
Whereas it can be tougher for the European jockeys because it is a completely different style for them."
Chad Schofield and Nash Rawiller also have riding contracts in the former colony. Rawiller will ride Contentment, which is a rough hope of upsetting favourite Able Friend in the Hong Kong Mile.
"It's a credit to our jockeys in Australia to have so many up here for this day," said Tommy Berry, who has ridden with success in Hong Kong and is completing a contract in Japan. Berry has rides in each of the international races - three for John Moore.
Hugh Bowman, who has also been in Japan for the past month, takes the ride on Preferment and has been picked up for several rides on the card, while Craig Williams reunites with Criterion, on whom he won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes earlier in the year, in the Hong Kong Cup.
"He feels great and can measure up to this class again," Williams said. "We went close last year [when third]."