Brown, aged 26, has agreed to join the Hong Kong jockey lineup from April 20 until the ongoing season wraps up.

With 27 wins under his belt placing him third on the Melbourne Jockeys’ premiership, he becomes available for Hong Kong engagements from April 26 onwards.

Terry Bailey, once Melbourne’s chief steward, reached out to Brown a few weeks prior inquiring about his willingness to head overseas to Hong Kong.

“It’s a good opportunity and I’m ready for a new challenge,” Brown said.

“Terry Bailey rang me a couple of weeks ago and asked if I would be interested and, I said ‘definitely’, and it all got ticked off in the last few days.

“It’s always been in the back of my mind to go there, and when they offered, I didn’t have to think twice about it.”

Before departing, Brown turns his attention to the autumn meetings across Melbourne and Sydney.

On Saturday, he’ll take the mount on Giga Kick for the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington in place of the hurt Mark Zahra.

Brown’s first official ride on the sprinter comes Saturday, having previously joined him in a trial heat at Caulfield Heath on January 29.

Brown delayed the Hong Kong move previously to sustain his riding arrangement with Jimmysstar.

The galloper under Ciaron Maher’s care will kick off again in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) next month at Caulfield, followed by Sydney raids on the Group 1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m) and the All-Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in April.

For the best odds heading into the Lightning Stakes, punters are advised to review leading racing betting markets.

“The Hong Kong trip is all based around Jimmy,” Brown said.

“He’ll run in the All-Aged on the 18th, I believe, and then I’ll fly out on the 20th and spend three-and-a-bit months there.”

The post Ethan Brown secures Hong Kong licence first appeared on Just Horse Racing.