English jockey Seb Sanders took the occasion of his first Hong Kong double to laugh at the notion he might have made an early return home as he starved for opportunity during recent weeks.
Sanders, whose riding has been characterised by his powerful driving in a finish, used that strength to brilliant effect yesterday as he brought home the Sean Woods-trained pair of Shining Gem and Gold Field.
Though Sanders won on Peter Ng Bik-kuen-trained Grand Fighter at Happy Valley in December, to break the ice here, rides, let alone chances, had been hard to get before yesterday's double took his tally to three wins from just 47 rides since his arrival.
'I never thought about going. I don't walk away. I keep on until they're bored with me and then I'll have another go,' said Sanders, who put up a worthy advertisement yesterday for better opportunities in the five weeks remaining in his Hong Kong stint.
'Unfortunately people have been seeing me on horses which are not finding the line - nobody ever looks any good on those - and I hope this double today might attract some attention and bring me a few more chances.
'It takes a few rides to get used to the different pace in races, it doesn't matter whether you're riding in Hong Kong, Japan or Britain - there are different ways wherever you go. But without the horse under you, you can't adapt.'