Racing:Kieren Fallon has failed in his bid to be granted a licence to ride at the Hong Kong International at Sha Tin on December 10.
The Irish rider had been pencilled in to ride 2005 St Leger winner Scorpion in the Hong Kong Vase, where he would have been set to compete against Ouija Board - on whom Fallon won the race 12 months ago.
However, a Hong Kong Jockey Club statement read: "The licensing committee, at their meeting held this afternoon, decided not to grant a jockey's licence to Kieren Fallon for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Race Meeting scheduled to be conducted at Sha Tin racecourse on December 10, 2006.
"The licensing committee was of the view that whilst it was not appropriate for them to comment on Kieren Fallon's pending criminal proceedings relating to horse racing integrity in the United Kingdom, the decision not to grant him a jockey's licence was consistent with the Hong Kong Jockey Club's previous decisions not to permit jockeys who were the subject of law enforcement investigations to ride in Hong Kong pending the outcome of those investigations."
Although Fallon is banned from riding in Britain as he has been charged with conspiracy to defraud Betfair customers, the Horseracing Regulatory Authority has not asked other racing jurisdictions to follow suit.
As a result, Fallon was able to partner Yeats in the Melbourne Cup but was barred from competing in the Arlington Million and subsequently dropped attempts to ride at the Breeders' Cup meeting.
He is permitted to race in Ireland.
Ouija Board is set to defend the crown he won with Fallon on board after an impressive third place behind Deep Impact in Tokyo at the weekend.
Ed Dunlop's brilliant mare is likely to bring the curtain down on her fantastic career with a successful defence at Sha Tin.
Ouija Board and Fallon beat the likes of Westerner, Shamdala, Cherry Mix and Warrsan in the Japan Cup 12 months ago.
And despite running for a ninth time this year at the weekend, connections were again amazed at her unbelievable constitution.
"It was another great effort and she was beaten by what I would consider to be the best turf horse in the world — and I don't think there is any disgrace in that," said Peter Stanley, racing manager to Ouija Board's owner Lord Derby.
"It wasn't like she was laid out for the Japan Cup by any means, she has had to run in a few on the way there but, as usual, she gave it her very best.
"The last I heard was that everything was fine and dandy and if she is up to it, we will go to Hong Kong and if she's not, we won't.
"One thing we could never be accused of is dodging an issue and we've never been scared off by anything but equally would not want to run her if everything wasn't right and she wasn't telling us she was alright.
"But it would be lovely to have one more run and go out on a high," added Stanley.