Champion jockey is a Cheeky master
No jockey has a better record on Caspar Fownes-trained Cheeky than Douglas Whyte and the champion rider should play a big part tonight in returning the six-year-old to winning form in what will be a memorable race for his connections.
Well-known owner Cynthia Pong Hong Siu-chu races three of the 12 runners in the Class Two Chuk Yuen Handicap over 1,650 metres, each with a different trainer - surely an extremely rare occurrence in Hong Kong racing if not a record. And even better, the trio of Cheeky, Celestial Steel (Felix Coetzee) and Gold Field (Vincent Sit Shun-keung) all look to have chances in a wide open final event.
Whyte may prove the key to Cheeky, having ridden the gelding nine times for three wins and four placings including his most recent win in June, 2003.
Despite two years out of the winning list, Cheeky has nevertheless raced very consistently since, including this season when he was most unlucky not to win at Happy Valley in mid-season. He also put in another great effort coming from last on the dirt to finish fourth behind Packing Angel in February.
After some unrewarded efforts, Fownes gave Cheeky a rest and freshened him up before bringing him back to 1,200m on the dirt last start with an eye-catching seventh.
From an outside gate, Cheeky was outpaced and became detached from the field at the rear before working home well and less than three lengths from winner Sun Power.
Tonight's trip will be more suitable and it should be run to suit with good speed provided by Jolly Good Fortune, Golconda and Winning Counter.
Celestial Steel is with all-conquering Tony Cruz, who has been even more dominant on the dirt than the turf.
In recent starts, Celestial Steel has been unsuited on the firmer Sha Tin turf or disadvantaged by awkward draws.
Last outing, Coetzee was forced to go all the way back at Happy Valley from gate 10 but Celestial Steel rattled home behind Five Grains for third and it would not surprise to see him much handier from a low draw this time round.
Gold Field has a duck egg in his last start form but punters should dismiss the effort altogether as he was badly blocked at Sha Tin behind Courageousheart.
He was never properly tested but his previous form was very solid.
Corey Brown has stuck with last-start winner Sing Fay Fay, who appreciated his first attempt on the dirt and must be a chance again with no weight despite his draw.
And The King and Master Gigolo have shown their best on the dirt and should be assessed that way, rather than on last time out defeats on the turf.
