Nash Rawiller Granted Hong Kong Licence

Leading jockey Nash Rawiller will extend his time riding overseas to include a Hong Kong stint.

Riding in Japan since for the past month, Rawiller will take up a four-month Hong Kong contract from September 21.

A three-time Sydney premiership winner, Rawiller will complete his commitments in Japan with trainer Noriyuki Hori and owner Kazuko Yoshida a week before arriving in Hong Kong.

During the heavyweight rider's only previous Hong Kong experience, Rawiller competed in the 2010 International Jockeys' Challenge at Happy Valley.

Rawiller rose to international fame in winning the 2005 Group One Dubai Duty Free on Elvstroem and has been one of the top Australian jockeys during the past decade, linking with outstanding gallopers such as More Joyous and Pierro in a career that has netted more than 2100 wins.

Rawiller, 39, rode the Japanese-trained mare Hana's Goal to win the All Aged Stakes during the Sydney autumn carnival, creating an opportunity to work out of Hokkaido.

He left Australia at the end of last month in a move that seemed certain to gift the Sydney jockeys' premiership to James McDonald.

But McDonald has made hard work of riding the winners he needs to claim the title and he will go into the final meeting of the season at Warwick Farm on Wednesday equal with Rawiller on 70 victories.