Whyte, returning to action after a seven-meeting ban for improper riding, scored earlier on the card aboard Fortune Maple to go into the IJC full of confidence and came out of it with a cheque for $200,000 and a share of the championship lead.

'It's been frustrating to watch other guys overtake me while I've been away and getting straight back to the top of the championship has been the bonus tonight,' said Whyte, before quickly correcting himself. 'No, this is the bonus,' he added, holding up the winner's cheque. 'This makes up for all those winners I've missed at the past seven meetings.'

The dual Hong Kong champion was the only rider among the star-studded field to score points in all three legs as he demonstrated his mastery of the tight city circuit. Having paved the way for success with minor points aboard longshots Super Combed and Cherished, Whyte was not to be denied in the final leg and got every last inch out of Danehill Warrior to score by a neck from Bobo Duck and post a total of 19 points, five clear of nearest rival Andreas Suborics.

Whyte said: 'I worked out the scores after the second leg and I knew a win on Danehill Warrior would be enough - I think it's the first time I've passed at maths in my life! He was my most hopeful chance of the night, but he's only a small horse and he was carrying 131 pounds on rain-affected going, so I knew it wasn't going to be easy. But he dug deep and held on well when the other horse lunged at him.'

Whyte also took home a silver whip for his efforts, while runner-up Suborics received $100,000 and a silver dish. Japan's Yutaka Take and Olivier Peslier of France were third and fourth respectively, and Hong Kong apprentice Way Leung Ming-wai more than held his own against the world's elite by taking fifth overall, despite being left one ride short after Got It Right was withdrawn from the middle leg.

Suborics was delighted with second place after kicking off his second Hong Kong stint in winning fashion aboard Bountiful in the middle leg. That was the 1,000th career success for the Austrian-born rider, who quickly moved on to 1,001 by scoring aboard Snowstorm in the next race, which unfortunately for him was not part of the IJC.

'I was very proud to take part in this series, especially coming from a small racing country like Austria,' said Suborics, who officially represented Germany as its champion and claimed the runner-up spot by sneaking into the points aboard Able Marshall.

'I was optimistic tonight because I thought I had some hopeful rides. I had a bad draw in the last race, but my horse did well to get some points by finishing fifth and I am very happy, especially as I also rode my 1,000th winner,' added Suborics, who is already well on his way to bettering the six winners he notched in his first Hong Kong contract last winter.

Whyte paved the way for his overall success with a determined finish aboard Super Combed in the opening leg. He was pushing the 17-1 chance early on the home turn but came from well off the pace to claim valuable points for fourth place. 'He was my most difficult ride,' Whyte said. 'He was a little bit reluctant to go forward, but it was important to get something on the board and every little bit helps in a competition like this.'

Ahead of him, Take took the race on the Peter Ho-trained Classa Win. The 10-times Japanese champion got the box-seat run and rated the 5-1 chance well before easing clear to score a two-length success. Leung, aboard Universal Glory, pressed the pacesetter Elegance and held on for the runner-up spot, while Peslier was always well placed on Utmost Easy and came home third. The result left Take setting the pace on 12 points, followed by Leung on six, Peslier (four) and Whyte (three).

The series was thrown wide open in the second leg with three jockeys getting on the scoresheet for the first time. One of those was Suborics, who drew level with Take by claiming the win aboard the Size-trained Bountiful.

Peslier failed by three-quarters of a length to make all the running aboard Super Elite, while Whyte scored minor points again with third-placed Cherished. Suborics and Take now had 12 points, with Peslier on 10 and Whyte on seven.

Steady rain brought a change from good-to-firm going to good for the final leg, but the door had opened for Whyte and he grabbed the chance in typically ruthless fashion. 'It's great to meet all the international guys and get to know them in the weighing room, but when the gates open it's every man for himself,' he said. 'Luck plays an important part, but this was probably the most competitive one [IJC] I've been involved in and it's been worth waiting for to get a win for Hong Kong.'

Graphic: IRNICKGES