Douglas Whyte’s rich vein of form straddled the turn-of-the-year.
The first-season handler snared the last race of 2019 with Last Kingdom and took the first race in 2020 when Iron Boy dug deep to take the Class 4 Palm Handicap by a neck under Karis Teetan at Sha Tin on Wednesday.
“You wouldn’t have dreamed for a better start than that. I’ve got a great team behind me; every ship needs a captain and it needs a crew as well – they hold the ship together,” he said.
Dougie Whyte – dream start (Pic – Hong Kong Jockey Club)
Whyte made it a double when Super Wealthy opened his account in section one of the Class 3 Chinese Banyan Handicap (1200m) at his second start, and in some style.
“When you work him in the morning, he gives you a real classy feel, he covers ground without you even knowing it and you’re running times: you try and run 25 or 26 (seconds) and you’re running 24s and he’s got his ears pricked. Those sorts of horses have always got a bit of class up their sleeve, but look, he’s only a two-time starter and I’m going to have a bit of fun with him,” the handler said.
Whyte believes the four-year-old will get 1400 metres “and possibly a mile later on” but is happy to stick to 1200m for now as he continues his education. The gelding arrived in Hong Kong with a maiden win from his only start in Australia and made a good impression first-up at Sha Tin when second to the talented Beauty Applause.
“He was very intractable in his first race here in Hong Kong and I thought it was a very good effort because first-timers don’t overcome that and still hit the line,” Whyte said.
“What I’ve had to get instilled in him is that it’s okay to sit behind and not charge – when he hears a noise behind him he thinks he has to go. He’s been a work in progress to just take the chill pill and get some confidence and he’s learning pretty well.”
- Hong Kong Jockey Club
