The internationalisation of racing moves on apace as Zac Purton and Corey Brown continue their regular visits home at Randwick on Saturday for George Main Stakes day.
Although they make their living in Hong Kong and Singapore respectively, getting home is a priority for them, when the offers come, and they could easily combine to take out a few of the features on Saturday's card.
Hong Kong champion Purton renews his association with dual Doncaster winner Scared Falls after starting the new season in the racing mecca with a pair of doubles in the past week.
"It is becoming a bit easier to get rides back there than it was a couple of years ago," Purton said from Hong Kong. "I don't know if that has a bit with me winning the championship up here or the fact that people are more willing to use someone from up here," Purton said.
"If I can get rides in the group 1s down there, I will always come."
He was part of Sacred Falls' autumn campaign that netted nearly $3 million from a fourth in the George Ryder Stakes, victory in the Doncaster and runner-up effort in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
A couple of even efforts on the heels of the placegetters in the Warwick and Chelmsford stakes have Sacred Falls primed for his favourite trip at weight-for-age.
"His form tells you that he takes a couple of runs to find his best," Purton said. "He is proven at weight-for-age after the autumn and I think he is ready to hit his straps, especially over the Randwick mile. He has been a good horse to me and hopefully we can add to that record on Saturday."
Brown has returned the past few weeks and after riding in Singapore on a Friday, jumping on a plane has become part of his routine. He has picked up the ride on Toydini for Hawkes Racing in the group-1 George Main.
"It is just good to know you are not forgotten," Brown said. "I'm coming back to ride for a strong team in the Hawkes.
"Every time I fire up the iPad and watch the racing back there, it seems like the Hawkesy and James McDonald are winning a race. They are flying.
"Toydini was very good first-up [when third in the Tramway Stakes] and has performed well over the mile at Randwick, but weight-for-age is a bit of test for him."
Brown, who sits second on the Singapore premiership, has also been the beneficiary of Hugh Bowman's suspension, picking up the rides on Epsom hopeful Rock Sturdy in the Bill Ritchie Handicap and Terravista in The Shorts.
"Joe was straight on the phone the day that Hughie looked like getting suspended and asked me if I would come out," Brown said. "That was good because it means I'm still in his thoughts when Australia's number one man is unavailable.
"Joe has a big rap on Terravista and Hughie told he feels he is just a quality sprinter. Rock Sturdy is a horse that has come through his grades and it is really his biggest test."
Brown will also ride another Bowman's regular mounts in Criterion in the Hill Stakes and the hoop can improve on a couple of seconds, on Tiger Tees in the Tramway Stakes and Bull Point in the Theo Marks Stakes, from the past two Saturdays.
"It is a good book of rides and hopefully I can get with a couple of winners, instead of the seconds I usually get when I can home," Brown said.
