A Douglas Whyte double included a bounce-back win for Secret Weapon and the jockey said the progression of Dennis Yip Chor-hong's rejuvenated miler might not be over yet.
Whyte's win on Amber Dragon snapped an 18-race run of outs that stretched back through the last two Sha Tin meetings before the South African snared a second victory to close the day on Secret Weapon.
Yip's patience in easing Secret Weapon back from a tendon injury paid off with two wins last season, and while the trainer went to the well one too many times late in the term, the five-year-old yesterday returned to form with a convincing second-up victory.
"The writing was on the wall with his first run over 1,400m this season - he was just waiting for the step up to the mile, with a bit more trackwork to get his fitness up," Whyte said, with Secret Weapon having gone into his first-up start without a barrier trial.
Yip is keen to step Secret Weapon up to 1,800m eventually but the trainer said he will continue his patient approach and skip the upcoming Sa Sa Ladies' Purse just over one month from now in favour of another start at a mile.
"I really think this horse can be competitive at Group Three level, but we can't rush him. You have to be careful with a horse that has had injuries like his," Yip said. "That last start last season was on a two week back-up and he was flat. We will stick to 1,600m for now and keep him fresh."
It was an approach Whyte endorsed: "I agree, 1,600m one more time. He is letting down so beautifully now. Without a doubt he will run 1,800m, but when you are doing something right, why change it?"
Whyte grabbed his first win for trainer Tony Cruz this season when he overcame a tricky gate on Amber Dragon, another horse to benefit from a first-up run.
"The difference today was a run under his belt and some cut in the ground," Whyte said. "At his first start on the way to the gates I was a bit concerned with his action, it was rock hard that day. Today when I went for home and popped the question, he let down very enthusiastically. Tony had him cherry ripe."
Even though Amber Dragon hasn't won out of turn over the last two seasons, Whyte said a jump into Class Two might actually work in the horse's favour.
"Now he is going to get a lump of weight off his back up in grade," he said. "What he was lugging around now, it's probably held him back. Up in class he will be doing things with more ease."
