Ryan Moore, champion amateur rider last year, has delayed plans to move to Wiltshire trainer Richard Hannon.

The elder son of Brighton trainer Gary Moore has an exciting opportunity to visit Hong Kong for six weeks.

The 18-year-old, who took professional status a few weeks ago after passing his driving test said: "There is a job as a work rider in Hong Kong, mainly showing off horses that have just arrived from the UK to potential purchasers.

"I don't expect to ride in races, for which you need a special licence, but this is a great opportunity to gain experience of racing and training at Shatin, one of the great race tracks."

Ryan's visit has been organised by ex-jump jockey Malcolm Bastard, who rode winners for the great Fred Winter in his training days.

For some time Malcolm, based at Marlborough, has bought horses for the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club.

He ships them out and they are then presented to likely owners in "breeze ups", full scale gallops on the race track.

Jayne Moore, Ryan's mum, said: "Malcolm thinks a lot of Ryan's ability and he suggested that he would benefit from the experience in Hong Kong and be very useful in breezing them.

"Ryan will have a chance to get to know the horses before November 10 when he flies out, because he will spend the next few days with Malcolm."

During his days as an amateur when he rode seven winners, Ryan raced in Germany, France and Belgium. His weight is perfect and although he will miss some rides on the all-weather tracks in the UK, the Hong Kong visit outweighs that in terms of experience.

The visit will also conjure poignant memories of Philip Cheng, the young Chinese apprentice who spent several weeks with the Moore family last season. Ryan and Philip became good mates and when the time came for Philip to return home, they swopped crash helmet covers as a mark of friendship.

Weeks later Philip was killed in a racecourse accident, so Ryan's visit will be something of a pilgrimage as well as an opportunity to broaden his experience of life and racing.