It was a tough time for Luke Nolen in Japan over the weekend but for Corey Brown things went exactly to plan in Mauritius.

The two may have been half a world away from Australia, and half a world away from each other, but they had plenty of attention from punters both here and abroad.

Nolen was riding in the World Super Jockeys Series at Hanshin but he couldn’t find a winner across both days of the event.

In fact of the four rides he had in Japan Nolen returned a best result of fourth in a very disappointing period.

It was a huge occasion for Nolen given it was run in conjunction with the Japan Cup Dirt however he didn’t get close to Irishman Johnny Murtagh who surged clear at the top of the standings.

Nolen does have a chance to turn things around quickly though when he and Murtagh ride at Happy Valley in the International Jockeys Challenge in Hong Kong on Wednesday night.

Things went a lot better for Brown in Mauritius though, the only country in the world with horse racing as its national sport.

Upwards of 30,000 cram into the tight turning circuit every week and numbers were up to see the local riders take on the team from Europe and Brown’s rest of the world outfit.

Brown got his side off to a flyer with two victories on Saturday and William Buick brought them home with three on Sunday.

Team captain Imran Christy chipped in with a couple of minors as he used plenty of local knowledge despite representing his native India.

In the end they finished with 63 points, just shading a gallant local team in second.

The European team of Frankie Dettori, Stephane Pasquier and Olivier Peslier could only make do with third.