Darren Beadman had been in demand for Hong Kong for years, but his running and handling disqualification in 1993 had been the stumbling block time and time again. Unanswered questions from that time were always felt important enough to stop the relicensing of Sydney's standout champion and record breaker, but in 2007 the committee bit the bullet and allowed Beadman to join the scene as John Moore's jockey.

If the committee had been hoping Beadman's presence would help to bring Douglas Whyte further back to the field after he had been given a scare in 2006-07 by Brett Prebble, then the stable jockey rules were always going to see that and Whyte powered on regardless. Beadman (48 winners) became a popular partner with public idol Viva Pataca and what may have seemed a gamble to the licensing committee paid off handsomely, as most expected it would.

Then there was the licensing of Canada's Emma-Jayne Wilson, the first female rider to get a club contract and a bigger gamble, in terms of her success on the track. She floundered and, as by far the least experienced senior rider, often looked overmatched in terms of technique in this company. But, on the ground, Wilson was hard working and personable and had she been able to ride a winner, it would have been popularly received.

Doubtless she took away positives and, in terms of providing variety, it was another worthwhile roll of the dice.