Friday's Licensing Committee will be the first credibility test for Hong Kong since Chris Munce's sentencing to 30 months' jail for his role in a 'tips-for-bets' scandal, so it will attract plenty of attention as the jockey list is announced. In March, the talk was about how the Munce case could negatively affect the appeal of Hong Kong racing for expatriate jockeys. Some felt the balance may have swung away from Hong Kong and towards safety as riders considered the benefits of riding here against the possibility of being caught up in a situation like Munce's position. Well, the news is going to be that this case has not driven them away and this column believes at least one of the big names in Australian racing will be among the jockeys for next season's riding roster.
