Jockeys are remarkable little warriors whose nerve and verve is verified daily.

A perfect example is current champion of the Victorian riding ranks, Luke Nolen.

It's a distant memory for most that his capacity to ride in such superlative form is a tribute to his diligence and determination.

Back in 2008, only seven months after his career highlight of winning the Cox Plate on El Segundo, Nolen was a crumpled mess on the track at Doomben after a horrific fall from a horse, ironically, named Antidotes.

Nolen had five plates inserted in his face as part of the reconstruction which was necessary because he was trampled on. In addition to the facial enhancement he also had to endure a knee reconstruction.

The horror and agony of this episode may have daunted some but Nolen fought back and by winning the past two Victoria jockeys' premierships, underlined his never-quit attitude.

And, by the way, he also had a lucrative and emotional ride on Black Caviar to be her partner for all bar two of her unbeaten sequence of 16.

As everyone knows the best jockeys are in the grandstands or in front of TV screens but, instead of prematurely criticising these miniature gladiators, maybe we should ponder the risks they stare down on a daily basis.

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Australia's thoroughbred trainers, all harbouring the ambition to win a Melbourne Cup, would have greeted the Hong Kong win of Dunaden with remorse and regret.

As a graduate of the Melbourne Cup (3200 metres), Dunaden went on to add the $1.8million Hong Kong Vase (2400 metres) to his trophy cabinet which directs further attention on the Melbourne spring carnival from an international perspective.

The dearth of locally bred stayers is becoming patently obvious and the foreign legion is gaining momentum for an on-going domination of our most prestigious staying event.

Dunaden's Hong Kong win was some belated compensation for jockey Craig Williams.

It has been well documented how Williams missed a Melbourne Cup ride on Dunaden because of an untimely suspension.

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At Warwick Farm on Saturday the feature race is the Group 2 Villiers Stakes over 1600 metres.

The in-form New Day Rising from the Gary Portelli stable may further propel the rise of diminutive apprentice, Chad Schofield.

Now down to a two-kilogram allowance, there is speculation about how the young fellow will go once he loses his capacity to claim.

The Villiers is a good sounding board because it is a non-claiming race and Schofield will be pitted on equal terms against the cream of Sydney's senior jockeys. I reckon he will more than hold his own.

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Another feature at Warwick Farm is the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200 metres).

While the consistent Rarefied is a dominant favourite, he has just returned from a tiring trip to Western Australia where he finished second in the Group 1 Winterbottom and I am going to have something on the better-priced News Alert.

He should have benefitted from one run since a spell when fifth of seven at Canterbury on a heavy track late last month, plus, he will be expertly handled by Hugh Bowman.