Super Whyte can prevail with a late burst
Douglas Whyte could start the day slowly but will finish with a flourish and can capture his third straight Jockey Challenge today.
The Durban Demon has rebounded from a zero-point effort at Happy Valley 11 days ago to get back to his dominant best, starting with a 50-point performance at Sha Tin a week ago, before his consistency got him home at the Chinese New year meeting.
Since returning from a three-meeting suspension, Whyte has won three of the four Jockey Challenges, and four of the last five he has contested. He can continue that winning form and extend what already looks an unbeatable break in the jockeys' standings - he has 46 wins, double that of his nearest rivals Brett Prebble and Olivier Doleuze.
Even though Whyte's rides in the opening two events - Full Star and Supreme Hong Kong - will be in the market, both races seem wide open and he could easily go without points. If that happens and his odds slide, he might be the time to get on with his best chances to come later, starting with Mentor in race three.
The last four races is where the South African can make his move, closing the 10-race card with another four, which will start single figure odds - Aomen, Ambitious Dragon, Real Specialist and Earl Of Leitrim.
Ambitious Dragon will be primed for the Stewards' Cup, Aomen should appreciate the step up to 1,800m, while Real Specialist and Earl Of Leitrim have put the writing on the wall in trials.
Whyte was $1.90 last night, with Prebble $3.80 and Darren Beadman $7.
