Former champion jockey and now a successful trainer, Douglas Whyte was elated after Wings Of War’s triumph in the Class 3 Shelley Handicap for eminent South African owner Mary Slack at Happy Valley on Wednesday.
Harry Bentley steers Wings Of War to victory (Pic – HKJC)
The Irish-bred son of Dark Angel won well under Harry Bentley.
“That’s probably the most satisfying winner I’ve had this season,” Whyte said. “It means a lot for the owner Mary, her daughter Jessica (Jell) and Stephen Jell. It’s been an unbelievable connection for me, I’ve known them my whole career.
“To get a winner on the board for them as a trainer, it’s a highlight of my career. Mary, Jessica and Stephen have been so good to me. When I was waiting to start my training career in Hong Kong, they let me stay in their house at Newmarket for three months. They are fantastic people.”
Whyte’s Ace Power showed plenty of conviction to win in a dramatic finish to the first section of the Class 4 Wyndham Handicap (1200m) for Andrea Atzeni. A three-year-old by Power, the gelding was having only his third start.
“He’s threatened to do that for a while – he’s been very immature and green and just needed the experience from a couple of runs to get used to Hong Kong racing, the pressure and the environment,” Whyte said.
“Today, he really laid down the gauntlet, showed some tenacity and came between them and really won well.”
- The next Hong Kong racemeeting is at Sha Tin on 11 May.
