Australia's jockey of the moment, Craig Williams, has won another international Group 1 - the $1.7 million Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes (1600m) for 2YOs at Nakayama in Japan on unbeaten colt Alfredo.

The $3.10 favourite Alfredo (b c 2, Symboli Kris S (USA)-Princess Camellia (JPN), by Sunday Silence (USA)) beat Meiner Robusto by two lengths yesterday after stalking the leaders and surging to the front about 200 metres out, with a half-length to Leo Active in third place. The time, 1min 33.4sec, equalled the race record.

It was Williams' first ride on Alfredo and his first ride for trainer Takahisa Tezuka. The jockey said: "It was a pick-up ride. Somebody recommended me to the trainer and owner."

It was Williams' sixth Group 1 win in the past three months. The others were in Melbourne (the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes on Toorak Toff, the Caulfield Cup on Southern Speed, the Cox Plate on Pinker Pinker), in Perth (the Railway Stakes on Ortensia), and in Hong Kong (the Cathay Pacific Vase on Dunaden).

Of course, the "big one" got away when Williams (34) was suspended and missed the Melbourne Cup - Dunaden won for replacement jockey Christophe Lemaire.

Williams' will ride in Japan's unique G1 race, the Arima Kinen (2500m), worth almost $5 million, at Nakayama on Christmas Day before flying home at the end of another successful Japanese stint.

The race is unique because the field is decided by fans' votes, ensuring plenty of public support.

Williams will ride his G1 Japan Cup (2400m) runner-up Tosen Jordan in a field of 16 that includes Buena Vista, who beat Tosen Jordan in the Cup at Fuchu in Tokyo, and Japan's best and most exciting young horse, the Triple Crown winner Orfevre.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong's best jockey, South African Douglas Whyte, champion for the past 11 seasons, had a treble at Sha Tin on Saturday to re-emphasise his dominance - almost four months into the season he leads the premiership by 18 with 37 wins. Australian Brett Prebble and young local star Matthew Chadwick share second on 19.

Two of Whyte's wins (Mentor and Glorious Days) were for Australian trainer John Size, who with 25 wins is on track for his seventh premiership in 11 seasons in Hong Kong. Size is six clear of the pack, headed by Tony Cruz (19), a former champion jockey in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong colt Bear Hero ($2.30), who flopped (last behind Sepoy in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes over 1200m at Flemington) at his only start on a trip to Victoria in the spring, resumed at Sha Tin with second placing to $2.20 favourite Fionn's Treasure in the Griffin Trophy (1400m).

In Singapore (where, unlike Hong Kong, the season runs for the calendar year), South African Barend Vorster tipped Australian Vlad Duric out of second place in the jockeys' premiership when he rode the last two winners of the season.

Vorster finished with 84 wins; Duric, who quit Singapore racing after a three-month suspension for failing to ride one of his mounts "with sufficient vigour and determination in the straight", had 83.

Brazilian Joao Moreira made the title a one-horse race with 153 wins.

South African Patrick Shaw, for whom Vorster is stable rider, won the trainers' premiership with 78 wins from local Leslie Khoo (66), New Zealander Laurie Laxon (64) and Australian Steven Burridge (62).

Other Australian trainers: Michael Freedman 56 wins, Cliff Brown 55, Don Baertschiger 52 and Brian Dean 40. Jockeys: Danny Beasley 42, John Powell 42, Ronnie Stewart 37.