Sydney's elite jockeys are giving the cold shoulder to winter racing.

Overseas contracts, interstate carnivals and annual end-of-season holidays have left a void in the Sydney riding ranks, made worse because of suspensions.

For a jockeys' room rated the most competitive in the country, Sydney racing will have its depth stretched to the limit at Rosehill on Saturday despite most fields having 10 starters or less.

The top seven jockeys, with 386 winners between them in this season's metropolitan premiership, will not be riding at the meeting.

They include premiership front-runner Nash Rawiller, who left for Japan almost two weeks ago as well as Tommy Berry, Hugh Bowman and Christian Reith who have been riding in Hong Kong.

Even Tye Angland, who has only just returned after four years in Hong Kong, has escaped the first real cold snap of winter to make his way back to the Asian racing capital for a season-ending cameo.

Darley's Kerrin McEvoy has joined the veteran Jim Cassidy in taking some leave to recharge his batteries before the start of the spring carnival.

And a suspension will force James McDonald to miss the meeting, keeping his premiership ambitions on ice until he returns to riding on July 13.

Bowman finished his short-term Hong Kong contract last week a little ahead of schedule due to a careless riding suspension. He is spending time with his wife Christine and their baby girl Bambi on an extended holiday.

"Thanks for everyone's support during a successful HK stint. Now enjoying family time in Ireland. Return to Sydney racing on August 2," Bowman said via Twitter.

The shortage of leading jockeys for Rosehill has been highlighted by trainer Greg Hickman's decision to wait on Civic Stakes scratchings before confirming a rider for Taxmeifyoucan.

It's a situation that will ensure Sydney trainers will be counting the days until Tommy Berry's return.

Berry plans to have a short break before making himself available for rides at Rosehill on July 19.

"He'll be back home on Monday and will have a few weeks off while obviously doing a bit of trackwork riding," Berry's manager Jeff Brian said.

Such has been the exodus of top jockeys since end of the autumn carnival, Berry still holds down a top-three premiership spot with 56 winners for the season.

Berry has knocked back a full-time Hong Kong role to continue his career in Australia and is looking forward to renewing ties with trainer Gai Waterhouse as they head into the spring with Melbourne Cup favourite The Offer who has an exhibition gallop at Rosehill on Saturday.