Brenton Avdulla to ride in Japan

Leading Sydney jockey Brenton Avdulla has secured a short-term contract to ride in Japan.

Avdulla will take up the challenge on August 4 and will be riding for leading trainer Yasutoshi Ikee with Katsumi Yoshida his contracted owner.

Ikee was the original trainer of Tosen Stardom who now races in Australia under Darren Weir and also prepared Japanese champion Orfevre.

With nine metropolitan meetings of the 2017/18 season remaining, Avdulla leads Blake Shinn by 12 in the Sydney premiership and has an 18-win buffer over Tye Angland for the state title.

Avdulla plans to spend a month in Japan initially and return to Australia for the spring carnival before going back to take up the final two months of his JRA contract.

Among his successes this season has been his first Golden Slipper win aboard the Hawkes Racing-trained Estijaab.