English lightweight rider Brett Doyle will make a lightning return to Hong Kong after a highly successful three-month stint.
That finished at the end of last month but the Licensing Committee of the Jockey Club last night granted trainer Andy T. W. Leung permission to retain Doyle for the remainder of this season.
Leung, who has had a poor season to date, retained Irish jockey Richard Hughes but that agreement has ended. The decision to permit Leung to retain another rider in the same season that an agreement broke down is a surprise and contrary to established precedents.
However, the committee presumably took into account the alleged state of Hughes' health, reportedly a major reason for the amicable split.
Ironically, Hughes rode a winner with his first ride back in England.
Doyle rode 18 winners in his three-month spell, an excellent strike rate and he was popular with trainers as well as racegoers.
