The end of an era in Hong Kong racing is approaching after Douglas Whyte revealed that he will retire from the saddle on February 10th and return as a trainer at the start of next season.
Hong Kong legend Whyte to call time on record-breaking riding career
The end of an era in Hong Kong racing is approaching after Douglas Whyte revealed that he will retire from the saddle on February 10th and return as a trainer at the start of next season.
Whyte arrived in Hong Kong in 1996 and has broken every record in the book since, winning thirteen consecutive jockeys’ championships until losing his title to Zac Purton in 2014.
His running total of over 1800 winners is a record that may never be broken – Tony Cruz lies second on the all-time list on 946 with Purton in third – but the man known as ‘The Durban Demon’ has decided to grasp what he calls “a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
“I got a call at about 6pm on Thursday and probably choked for a few seconds but this wasn’t a hard decision as it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said.
This is only the second time that the Hong Kong Jockey Club has issued a trainer’s license to a current jockey – the first was awarded to Cruz in the same season that Whyte first came to Hong Kong – and the South African feels he is more than ready to take on a new challenge at the age of 47.
“I never expected this to be so sudden but I’m grabbing it with both hands,” he added. “I think I’ve done everything a jockey can do in Hong Kong. I’ve won just about every race and achieved all I wanted to achieve with those thirteen Premierships.
“The guys who are hitting it out at the top now know how intense it is and what it takes to be a champion and believe me it’s a lot of hard work and dedication. But I’ve done it. I’ve been there and know what they’re going through.
“I’m looking forward to the next chapter now. I don’t think there will by any less pressure, that’s for sure, but I’m looking forward to winning races and watching them from the ground.”
Whyte has won nearly all of Hong Kong’s biggest races on numerous occasions, including three Derbies, but nominates his 1997 Queen Elizabeth II Cup success aboard London News as one of his most cherished successes.
South African star London News gives Douglas Whyte his first HK G1
“That was my first G1 win in Hong Kong,” he added. “I hadn’t established myself at that point and he was the pride of South Africa. He’ll always hold a special memory for me but there’s still plenty of room for silverware from a trainer’s point of view.”
Whyte also revealed that the date of his retirement also holds very special significance from a family perspective.
“The tenth of February wasn’t chosen by myself,” he added. “The Club asked me to extend to that date and it’s the most amazing thing.
“My dad John passed away on the tenth of February. My daughter Sheikara Asia was born on the tenth of February. And now I’m closing a chapter in my life and opening a new one on the tenth of February. It’s phenomenal that that day was chosen for me by the Club and I’m very grateful for that.”
Hong Kong Round-Up
Beauty and Beat set to square off again next month
Top trainer John Moore is keeping the door ajar (very slightly ajar, in truth) for Beauty Generation to visit Royal Ascot this summer.
However, Hong Kong’s star miler has a more immediate UK date when the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2018 are announced in London on Wednesday.
Beauty Generation looks set to be among the world’s elite with a mark of 127 or 128 and looked at the peak of his powers again on his first run of 2019 when landing the G1 Stewards’ Cup over 1600m in commanding all-the-way fashion under Zac Purton at Sha Tin on Sunday.
That success came around an hour after old rival Beat The Clock had made his G1 breakthrough over 1200m in the Centenary Sprint Cup under Joao Moreira and the pair will square off for a second time over 1400m in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup on February 17th.
The form book shows that Beat The Clock crept up on Beauty Generation’s inside to draw level last February only to go down by a head as the winner rallied.
“Joao let out a roar when he came upsides me that day but the noise just seemed to spur Beauty Generation on again,” recalls Purton.
The stage is set for another heavyweight battle next month. And, if the race is anything like last year, then Moreira won’t be the only one roaring.
Ho Ho has more to prove to have the last Derby laugh
The next seven weeks in Hong Kong revolve largely around the BMW Hong Kong Derby and, although these are still early days, a few fair markers are already being put down.
Sunday’s Sha Tin card produced a couple of notable trials, with Ho Ho Khan completing a hat-trick over 1800m and Waikuku looking very smart when scooting clear over 1400m.
Stamina is clearly Ho Ho Khan’s forte and the Derby distance of 2000m will be right up his street judged by the way he wore down Helene Leadingstar under Vincent Ho from a rating of 82.
But Ho Ho Khan was receiving 5lb from the runner-up, who did particularly well considering he helped force an overly strong pace for a long way. The Classic Cup over 1800m on February 17th gives both a chance to shine again but they need to take another step forward before they can be viewed as major Derby players.
Waikuku impresses again but jury still out as to the Derby distance
All the last ten Derby winners went into the race with a rating of 100 or more and Waikuku certainly has the potential to take his mark onto triple figures judged by the way he captured Sunday’s finale off a mark of 83.
That Class 2 handicap looked strong beforehand and was run at a pace to match, so the fact that the former John Oxx galloper could quicken clear in such smooth fashion was highly impressive.
But will Waikuku be fully effective over 2000m? His sire Harbour Watch retired at two and is still very early in his stallion career, while his dam was very lightly raced but does have relatives who stayed beyond a mile.
Joao Moreira seems optimistic about longer trips and the Classic Cup – which has featured eight of the last ten Derby winners – could be the ideal stage to test his Classic credentials.
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