The Everest runner-up Trapeze Artist and Santa Ana Lane are set to lead a return of Australian horses to the Hong Kong International meeting in December if government authorities return to a two-week quarantine period.

The quarantine period for horses to return from Hong Kong to Australia was extended last year to 180 days after concerns that horses could mix with equine populations from mainland China.

However, major race clubs and Racing Australia have been lobbying the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources for a return to the previous quarantine conditions. It is understood significant progress has been made and an interim decision could be announced this month.

Trapeze Artist and Santa Ana Lane were inoculated on Sunday and would make the trip provided they could return for autumn campaigns in Australia.

“We don’t want to take Santa to Melbourne because he is not as good down the straight,” said Sam Freedman, who is foreman for his father Anthony.