ELECTRONIC Zone swept into the reckoning for the Hong Kong Derby with a telling win in the seventh event at Sha Tin yesterday on a card dominated by local racing's French contingent. Douglas Whyte rode his first winner of 1998 when Electronic Zone went to the line untouched to win the set-weights Connaught Stakes over 1,400 metres where favourite Special (2-1) finished last in the six-runner event. The official margin of a neck over the John Moore-trained Victory Mount (8-1) was deceiving as Whyte never laid the whip near Electronic Zone and had all angles covered in the final strides to the post. Electronic Zone had made headlines - along with senior handicapper Martyn Stewart - when he was bumped up 26 points after defeating Bumper Storm at his last start. It was the highest hike in professional racing history. While yesterday's result will confirm the handicapper's opinion of the horse, it was trainer Tony Cruz who ensured success by keeping him in conditions rather than handicap company. Whyte said: 'He's entered for the Derby and I think he will get the 1,800 metres but I am not totally certain what Tony is now going to do with him. Of course he is a very nice horse, and I think we all knew that. 'He has answered all the questions we have so far put to him and done it well. 'It was the same today and the race panned out pretty well for us.' The Classic Trial over 1,600 metres on February 2 followed by the $6.5 million Derby on March 1 look the logical races for this exciting son of Rahy. Electronic Zone was backed right down in the final eight minutes of betting but was just shaded by Special which had run very well from an unaccustomed position in front in the International Bowl. Jockey Basil Marcus seemed clearly intent not to be forced to lead yesterday and took hold of Special on jumping out - but it ended up with the David Hayes-trained galloper being three wide on the outside of leader Victory Mount and the stalking Electronic Zone. It got no better for the favourite when Eric Saint-Martin slipped away on Victory Mount with Whyte quick to ensure there would be no race-winning break. Both cleared away and Special could not get on terms. The Kieren Fallon-ridden The Oscars (12-1) finished third. Saint-Martin was part of the big day enjoyed by the French, powering his way to a double - one of them for trainer Patrick Biancone who had his best day of the season with an excellent treble. Saint-Martin was aboard the ostensible stable second string Treasure Island (11-1) in the 1,000-metre third event when he came well clear to beat Zeditave King (25-1) and the useful debutant, Nanning Treasure (15-1). Biancone also saddled up Keen Talent (12-1) to win the following event, the Classes One and Two, 1,800-metre fourth race with Robbie Fradd doing the riding duties. Keen Talent accounted for Best Eagle (8-1) and topweight River Dance (5-1) who had to contend with a big weight and an outside draw. Win-Etic, the surprise 9-2 favourite, finished fifth. Stable jockey Eric Legrix was aboard for the final leg of his retaining trainer's treble when Lucky Charm 7-2) posted a solid victory in the eighth event on the programme. Lucky Charm had more than two lengths to spare on Interstar with Canadian Champ finishing a handy third. Vantage Point (5-2 favourite) finished fourth and Whyte said: 'I lost count of the number of times he changed his legs.' The treble saw Biancone move to 17 winners for the season and his stable is moving into top form. He said: 'It was a good day for us. Treasure Island had problems early in the season but has overcome them and I was also pleased with the way Loyal Marshal ran in the same race. He will be better over longer. 'Lucky Charm had done very well after his last race and he finished third to a very good horse [Billion Win] so his win was no surprise to me. 'Keen Talent was a last-start winner and has held his form.'