Front-running Whyte maintains title grip

Douglas Whyte maintained his 14-win lead in the jockeys' premiership by trading a double on I Smell Money and New Vision with Darren Beadman's early pair.

Whyte took his season tally to 46 through a strong front-running display from the John Size-trained I Smell Money and another determined effort by Paul O'Sullivan's last-start winner New Vision.

'Last time out I Smell Money had a torrid run from the wide gate, and as he is still a little flighty and nervy he just spent too much energy early,' Whyte said.

'Today he was still inclined to race keenly but, from the good draw, I was able to dictate the speed and when the challengers came to beat him, he responded very well and fought them off great.

'Once he gets the better of his nerves, I think he can become a typical John Size improver and he should only get stronger as he goes along.'

I Smell Money maintained a half-length margin to the wire to claim the Prosperity Handicap (1,400m) from Romancing Tamar and King Of Fish II.

Later, O'Sullivan was delighted to see New Vision record back-to-back wins in a stable first for the season, and, like Whyte, is hopeful of further improvement as the lightly raced four-year-old gains experience.

'He's certainly improved on his last win, and I think he's going the right way mentally, but he still doesn't want to race too closely to other horses and that will have to be ironed out,' O'Sullivan said.

'He's nice and progressive, so going up a class and shedding some weight shouldn't harm his chances next time.'

Whyte and O'Sullivan had debated whether to apply blinkers to the Bertolini gelding prior to his recent win, but Whyte is now in favour of leaving the head-gear off until the horse really shows he needs it.

'I don't think he really wants blinkers on just yet, I'd hate to get him to do things too quickly in his races, and at the moment he is going well without,' Whyte said.

'He did have a bit of pressure with horses around him today, but he didn't shirk his task and produced a really solid effort to nudge out and sprint in the straight.

'He isn't the type of horse that will ever win by big margins, and that is going to be an asset to him in handicapping terms.'

The early double had Whyte poised for a big afternoon, but his final three mounts for Size, who were all well supported, pulled up with mucopus issues and failed to deliver on their market promise.