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SCMP Reporter

The master of one-upmanship, Douglas Whyte, moved up another gear and helped himself to a treble to edge another vital winner clear of fellow South African Basil Marcus in the race for riding honours.

 Defending champion Marcus took the opening two griffin contests for Australian boss David Hayes - lifting his tally to 54 - but Whyte responded with great tenacity and the well-fancied three-timer moved him to 58, four clear of his arch-rival.

 The longer this battle goes on the better Whyte is looking to topple five-time champ Marcus from his perch.

 Whyte opened his account aboard Perfect Star (3.3-1) for retaining trainer Tony Cruz in the Classes One and Two longer dash.

 Stable confidence was high and the money was right on the mark as Whyte sat outside the speed set by Spectacular Champ before hitting the front 400 metres out.

 He surged clear over the concluding stages and was never really challenged.

 The ultra-consistent Markgraf (6.2-1) proved he can mix it with the higher-ranked gallopers to fill the quinella spot, while Citadel (19-1) gave his best account for some time by working home stylishly into third.

 But it was the final leg of the Whyte trio that really exemplified this two-man war for supremacy.

 And on the bare facts alone it is Whyte who seems to be gaining the upper hand. What looked on paper to be an open contest ended up a grinding battle between the two leading protagonists.

 In the end, it was Whyte, on Wylie Wong Wai-lit's Sunshine Dancer (5.3-1), who just got the better of favourite Fairview Star (4.7-1) in the shadows of the post.

 The pair pulled some four lengths clear of the remainder, headed by Action Win, although this Classes Five and Six staying affair was not one to get overly excited about.

 But every winner counts and Whyte will take them where he can get them.

 The middle leg of his treble will prove more significant from a form students' point of view as the revitalised City Patrol (3.8-1 favourite) racked up his second on the trot with an all-the-way victory in the Class Three fifth event over the mile.

 The five-year-old Wong Tang-ping-prepared gelding has been a revelation since blinkers were applied and the gear did its trick again yesterday as he pulled his way to the front of the field before posting a comfortable victory.

 City Patrol was cleverly nursed to the turn and then gave plenty when asked for his effort in the straight.

 He was always holding the lightly raced Casey's Drum (14-1), who rarely runs a bad one if he makes it to the track, with staying prospect Aly Baba (4.6-1) grabbing third.

 Marcus had the perfect chance to erase Whyte's efforts when he picked up the late ride on popular-elect Lucky Charm (3.1-1) for the indisposed Eric Legrix in the Classes One and Two finale.

 However, the Patrick Biancone-trained gelding could only manage third - beaten a head by a head - behind impressive newcomer The King Of Cloyne (9-1) and the dogged Happy Forever (6.5-1).



Whyte's treble provides perfect response to defending champ