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William Pike and Lisa Cropp have confirmed their overseas riding plans in Hong Kong and Turkey.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Pike will take up his second riding contract in Hong Kong next month while Cropp has decided that she will continue her much travelled riding career in Turkey in May after quitting Melbourne two weeks ago.
Pike, a three-time winner of the Perth riding premiership, previously rode freelance in Hong Kong for six months in the 2009-10 season. He will again ride as a club jockey from April 25 until the end of the current season.
Pike was selected to replace former Sydney-based South African jockey Jeff Lloyd, who will leave Hong Kong in April and return to Australia to settle on the Gold Coast.
Pike, who celebrated his 26th birthday last week, is hoping to win his fourth Perth premiership even though he will miss the last three months of the local season.
He has ridden 59 Perth winners and is 19 ahead of his nearest rival Shaun O'Donnell.
Pike's long-time partner and successful jockey Jessica Valas retired from riding four weeks ago and is expecting the couple's second child.
Lisa Cropp has confirmed that she will head to Turkey in late May and will, be absed in Istanbul until July.
The final month of her contract will coincide with the 34th Asian Racing Conference that will put a big focus on the growing local racing industry.
“I've thought about it and have decided to give it a go,” said the 39-year-old Cropp.
“From what I know, racing in Turkey is very strong with good quality horses, so it should be an interesting and worthwhile experience.”
Cropp is one of the most travelled jockeys in world racing, having ridden in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, the US, UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau and Mauritius.
