The 48 year old Joburg born Dougie Whyte, the ‘Durban Demon’ to many, is just the second person given the opportunity to transfer straight from the saddle to the training yard, following in the footsteps of another Hong Kong hero, Tony Cruz.
Dougie Whyte
Whyte will draw the curtain on his riding career on 10 February before beginning preparations for his new job.
He is a legend in Hong Kong, having ridden over 1800 winners and achieved 13 straight jockeys’ championships.
“I’m as surprised as everybody that it’s happened the way it has and I’m very fortunate to have been afforded this opportunity. I think it’s the right time,” the 47-year-old told the South China Morning Post.
“It’s always been a goal of mine to train in Hong Kong and I was hopeful I would be afforded the opportunity but I didn’t think it would happen so quickly.”
The South African Jockey Academy graduate first came to Hong Kong in 1996-97 and it was London News who delivered him his first Group One in Hong Kong, winning the QE II Cup in 1997.
“It’s something that has been on my mind for a while, but I’ve only put in an application recently. The thought process being that there are vacancies and there are going to be a few more vacancies in the next couple of years,” he said.
Whyte will apparently head overseas for a couple of months to learn management and training skills from some of the best trainers around the world.
He told the Sporting Post that his major early influences were Felix Coetzee, Muis Roberts and Jeff Lloyd.
“Being able to watch and learn from riders of that calibre had a huge impact and has been a huge influence and inspiration. I was kit boy to Muis Roberts and Felix Coetzee and Felix is still one of my best friends.”
