Tom Marquand may not be hanging around for Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong International Races, but the British rider admits it is likely only a matter of time before he makes a permanent move to the city.

Marquand has made a good impression across his five fleeting visits, and after getting another taste for Happy Valley in Wednesday night’s International Jockeys’ Championship (IJC), he was left pondering a potential future in Hong Kong.

“It’s something that’s always on your radar. For us, as a couple, we are so fortunate that we’re both riding at the same level,” said Marquand, referencing wife Hollie Doyle. “You have to take the hook eventually because it is such great racing, and it is competitive.”

After sharing the spoils with Silvestre de Sousa in last year’s renewal of the IJC, Marquand returned to the city circuit on the hunt for back-to-back titles, and Doyle was eyeing a first crown.

Despite failing to get on the scoreboard in the contest, which home-grown rider Vincent Ho Chak-yiu won with 20 points, racing’s glamour couple received plenty of support from Hong Kong’s trainers across the entire card.

Marquand was the only overseas star with a full book of rides over the nine-race programme, while Doyle hopped aboard eight gallopers on her fourth IJC appearance.

The duo teamed up with 12 different trainers from their 17 mounts, and Marquand hopes those connections will help the pair if they decide to make a move the 25-year-old speaks of as if it is inevitable.

“Riding for a multitude of trainers is nice. Hopefully, one day, when we end up coming over to Hong Kong, that will come into play,” Marquand said.

With an IJC win under his belt, Marquand has quickly made his presence felt in Hong Kong, and the same goes for Doyle, who boasts an impressive 12 per cent strike rate in the city – a figure that would have her comfortably in the upper echelon of the current jockey ranks.

On their most recent trip to the city, the pair have also had the chance to get a feel for everything Hong Kong has to offer, with the duo using their Covid-free visit to show Doyle’s parents around.

“This is the first year with no full restrictions. Last year was a bit turbulent, but it is fantastic to be back,” Marquand said.

Italian rider Andrea Atzeni is the most recent addition to the Hong Kong jockey roster from the United Kingdom. Harry Bentley and De Sousa, albeit suspended and disqualified currently, have also made the journey in recent years.

“As jockeys, it is one of the places you can come to further your experience and become a better jockey,” Marquand said. “Every time you come out here, you learn something new. It’s sharp racing, but it is super fair. The rules are so strict, so you have to be on it.”

Known as Aussie Tom by some for his successful exploits in Australia, Marquand notched 102 victories during this year’s British flat season and brought up his 1,000th win in the process.

Finishing one place above Doyle (89 victories) in the premiership, Marquand’s season featured Group One triumphs in Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.