VETERAN Australian trainer Neville Begg reacted with pleasure last night when informed that he would be permitted to retain a jockey in his final season in Hong Kong.
'That's a real bonus, I am very pleased with the news. It's a little unexpected, too, because I understand that most of the Chinese press were saying that I did not get a permit.
'It is a really big help to me. I have always said that having a jockey attached to you permanently makes a lot of difference,' said Begg.
But current stable jockey Darren Gauci is not the confirmed choice for next season if he gets a licence under the Jockey Club's three-year rule.
Begg stressed: 'I have made no commitments to anyone. I did not really know whether I would get a permit to retain a rider or not so it has not been on my mind too much.
'Now that I know, I will be thinking it over very carefully and talking to my owners,' he added.
Fellow Australian Geoff Lane lost out in his bid to secure a stable jockey.