The big news in Hong Kong racing this week was the impending welcome of Brasilian star and Singapore record-breaker Joao Moreira to the jockeys’ ranks next month.
Moreira’s licensing looks a formality now that he has indicated his willingness to switch bases to Hong Kong, where he will join forces with reigning Hong Kong Mile hero Ambitious Dragon as well as inject even more spice into what is already an interesting jockeys’ championship duel between Zac Purton and Douglas Whyte.
But Moreira’s arrival is still a few weeks away and punters at Sha Tin this weekend will be more intent on looking for winners, with another big day for Whyte looking likely.
Whyte has begun with real intent this season, unlike last year’s sluggish start, and he could easily add to his seven wins from the first four meetings.
His day opens with Take The Rap, a Group winner in Melbourne at three but a miserable flop in Hong Kong, where he is one of the lowest-rated horses after failing to win in 35 starts. He is back on the dirt with a low gate, has run well before in those circumstances and Whyte will get down to just about his lowest riding weight these days for the mount.
In the fourth, Whyte takes his place again aboard Clement Spirit, an impressive winner at his first run for Danny Shum on opening day, and on good rides for John Size in Golden Addiction (race five), Dehere’s The Love (race six) and Glorious Sunday (race eight).
Whyte has had a good strike rate with David Hall from few pairings in the last couple of seasons and will be on promising youngster Bundle Of Joy in the seventh when that gelding resumes looking to build on his 4 starts for 2 wins and 2 seconds.
By Nathan Mody
