As the jockey jigsaw puzzle becomes more complicated with Melbourne's Turnbull Stakes meeting, the Hong Kong-based Reith confirmed he had heeded a call from old Darley boss Peter Snowden to ride in The Metropolitan on Saturday.

Reith will partner Newcastle Cup winner Disclaimer in the $400,000 staying feature of the Sydney spring before combining with Gai Waterhouse's lightweight Epsom hope Woodbine.

"With Melbourne being on there's been a fairly big drain of riders in both places," said Snowden, who prepares Disclaimer in tandem with son Paul. "It's been hard to get someone on. We've had a lot of luck with Christian before, he rides light and we heard he was coming over only a couple of days ago."

The fly-in fly-out overseas-based jockey has never been more popular, with Brazilian ace Moreira (He's Your Man) and recent Singapore dweller Corey Brown (Rock Sturdy) on favoured Epsom mounts.

Reith and Moreira's Hong Kong rival Zac Purton has already tasted group 1 success in the Sydney spring with George Main Stakes hero Sacred Falls.

A streamlined Reith is still seeking his first win of the new Hong Kong season as he establishes himself in the Asian racing mecca, but it has not stopped him sounding out the possibility of further big-race mounts in Melbourne.

"Peter's been a great supporter and I like to support him also," Reith said. "He doesn't throw them in the deep end for no reason. I think he [Disclaimer] ran well [in the Newcastle Cup] and he's a good horse who will be a lightweight chance."

Weights will be raised in The Metropolitan when the final field is declared on Wednesday, meaning Reith won't be forced to meet Disclaimer's 52-kilogram burden, but it is the same weight allotted for Woodbine in the Epsom.

"I've found over here my weight is really good and you've got to ride lighter over here because it's very competitive," Reith said. "You're not riding every day over here, which helps. It gives you time to work on it and you go to the races and you're eating on the way home.

"I realised when I came over here I was starting from the beginning again. It was a thing I thought I needed at this time in my career. It sharpens you up and focuses you as a rider. It was a new challenge I wanted and was leaning to, so when the opportunity arose I was keen to jump at it.

"Hopefully people will realise I can ride light now, which might open up some other rides in the bigger races."

Snowden and Reith have combined with great success in Australia before, with the jockey striking at an enviable 18 per cent when used by the ex-Darley top dog.

But it will be somewhat unfamiliar territory for Snowden, who rarely had the chance to work with staying stock in Sheikh Mohammed's operation.

"He [Disclaimer] has got a hope," Snowden said. "I think his first few runs were on soft ground and too short for him.

"I could always see at the end of his races he was good and I was happy with the way he was working. It was a big improvement from Wyong to Newcastle in his trackwork and he raced that way. It has brought him right on now and he's right where we want him to be."

Disclaimer is on the fifth line of betting at $11 with Ladbrokes for The Metropolitan. David Hayes' Caulfield Cup-chasing Spillway is a $4.40 favourite.

Reith will also partner one of the Snowdens' babies in the first two-year-old races of the season, the listed Breeders' Plate (colts and geldings) or Gimcrack Stakes (fillies).

Meanwhile, Peter Moody will wait until Wednesday before confirming whether unbeaten filly Thinking Of You takes on Winx and First Seal in the Flight Stakes. Lidari (Epsom Handicap) and Brambles (The Metropolitan), joining Newcastle Cup placegetter Wish Come True, are also hopes of giving Moody a presence in all three group 1s at Randwick.