Sydney is to lose two of its leading jockeys after the autumn carnival with Tommy Berry and Hugh Bowman to spend three months in Hong Kong.

The two were notified on Monday they had received three month contracts to ride in the high pressure arena that is Hong Kong racing.

For Berry it will be a familiar experience with the 22-year-old an immediate success when he went there on a similar deal last year.

Bowman has ridden in Hong Kong on International day but this will be his first extended stint.

The pair share equal second place on this year’s Sydney premiership with 29 wins apiece, three behind Christian Reith.

Since his first Hong Kong foray, Berry has made hit and run visits to ride for John Moore and rode a winner on Sunday and came second in the Classic Mile.

Bowman has won two Sydney premierships in 2008/09 and 2011/12 and has won many of the country’s biggest races including three of the past four Victoria Derbys.

Berry’s twin brother Nathan will also be leaving Sydney to take up a four-month Singapore contract from March 1.