A lifestyle choice and the chance to ride overseas have led jockey Paul Hammersley to try his luck in Macau for a three-month stint from early next month.Hammersley, who will have only two rides at one of his final meetings at Eagle Farm on Wednesday, will start his new contract on February 10."I'll ride at a couple more meetings here before I go in two weeks but I'm looking forward to it," Hammersley said."It's a lifestyle choice. I want to do a bit of travel and my girlfriend, Bec, is coming w
A lifestyle choice and the chance to ride overseas have led jockey Paul Hammersley to try his luck in Macau for a three-month stint from early next month.
Hammersley, who will have only two rides at one of his final meetings at Eagle Farm on Wednesday, will start his new contract on February 10.
"I'll ride at a couple more meetings here before I go in two weeks but I'm looking forward to it," Hammersley said.
"It's a lifestyle choice. I want to do a bit of travel and my girlfriend, Bec, is coming with me.
"I'll be riding freelance in Macau and I'll ride work for everyone and anyone.
"I know a guy who sells horses in Macau and it was his prompting that led me to apply for a licence over there."
Hammersley said former Sydney rider Larry Cassidy's move to Brisbane had not influenced his decision to head overseas.
"It'll be a lot tougher now that Larry is here but his decision to ride in Brisbane had nothing to do with me going to Macau," he said.
Hammersley has had a number of well-wishers but also several who have tried to talk him out of going to Macau.
"I know it's probably not the best time to head to Macau but I'm only young and I can always head back home," he said.
"My weight is very good at the moment and I've had a few winners lately and I'm in the top 10 riders in the Brisbane premiership."
Hammersley's career highlight was winning his only Group One as an apprentice aboard the Gerald Ryan-trained Mon Mekki in the Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm in 2002.
Mon Mekki's victory was in the same year as one of his other career highlights aboard Captain Test in the Group Three Tattersall's Cup (2200m) at Eagle Farm.
Hammersley also rated his recent Magic Millions Cup win aboard the Guy-trained Masai's Pride as his best victory in recent times.
He said the Guy-trained Monicablinco in the Lovely Jubly Handicap (1200m) was his better hope of snaring a win at Eagle Farm.
He also rides the Robert Bradshaw-trained Prend in the Anthems Handicap (1500m).
Monicablinco will be making her Queensland debut for the Guy stable following three wins in an eight-start career in Victoria.
"Monicablinco was trained by Mick Price in Melbourne and she seems to go quite well," Guy said.
"She's had a barrier trial and ran a nice second at the Gold Coast recently but I'll be guided by how she goes in this as to where we'll head with her."
The four-year-old daughter of Falvelon has not started since finishing 10th to Red Element in the Listed Creswick Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on June 7.