South Africa's newest sporting idol, Douglas Whyte, is poised to make his English debut at the most glamorous meeting in the country's calendar, Royal Ascot.
Whyte, who rode London News into South African sporting history with his Queen Elizabeth II Cup victory at Sha Tin on Sunday, is the confirmed rider for the horse's early mid-summer engagements in England.
Whyte, who is currently the caretaker 'trainer' for London News, now in pre-export quarantine at Sha Tin, confirmed yesterday that the plan was definitely to run the horse at Royal Ascot.
'There are about five Group One races at Royal Ascot and they are working out which one to go for. I have spoken to the owner, Laurie Jaffee, who is now in Kuala Lumpur, and that is the way they are going.
'He has told me that he wants me to ride London News and it is now my intention to head for England as soon as the season ends here. Royal Ascot starts two days after we finish here so it is a rush job,' said Whyte.
London News is due to fly to England at the end of the first week in May, having spent 40 days in Hong Kong since first arriving here for his QEII Cup engagement.
He will be ridden out by Whyte during the remainder of the stay and he is also walking London News.