Lyle Hewitson has expressed his gratitude to the Hong Jockey Club for a five year stint in which he cherished every moment, but he felt it was the right time to leave.
HKJC approved his request to withdraw his riding license from 24 December.
Although the official reason given for wanting to return to South Africa was reportedly “for personal reasons” it has emerged that he believed he had lacked the support from last season and into this season to be able to compete at the highest level.
He wants to compete at the highest level and is not happy to settle for anything less.
Last season he rode 27 wins, just over half of his best return of 50 in the 2022/2023 season.
However, his return of one win in 89 rides this season underlines the lack of quality he has been receiving.
Hewitson is 29 years of age and will surely be in huge demand in South Africa, where he is a three-times Champion Jockey.
He has to date had 176 wins in Hong Kong.
His only Group race win was on Speed Dragon in the January Cup in the 2025/26 season.
His last Gr 1 win worldwide was on Erik Dubois in the World Pool Moment Of The Day Premiers Champion Stakes, a Wernars Family-owned Erik The Red gelding who gave trainer Louis Goosen his first Gr 1 win.
Hewitson rode him while on a working holiday in South Africa in July this year and he will relish having regular Gr 1 opportunities upon his return.
