ENGLISH rider Philip Waldron has quit Macau for a new contract in Mauritius while his one-time Club jockey colleague in Hongkong, Australian Danny Brereton, is heading home.
Brereton, who had not applied for a licence to ride at Taipa next season, split with first-season trainer Joe Murphy recently and decided to return home early.
Waldron, who has done most of his riding in the past two seasons for English trainer Keith Stone, has happily taken the Mauritius position for six months as opportunities at Taipa dwindled.
Both Waldron and Brereton were the first riders employed directly by the Royal Hongkong Jockey Club as Club riders and tasted varying degrees of success.
Waldron had a phenomenal first season but was never able to repeat that success and was denied a licence three seasons ago when he had an agreement with local trainer Cheung Hok-man. He then moved to Macau.
Brereton fell victim to the three-year rule last season and moved to Taipa as a virtual stable jockey for Murphy at the start of the present season. He had been very successful, at one time looking a championship chance, but has ridden infrequently since the Derby Day meeting last month.