Champion jockey Douglas Whyte could provide the tactical key to putting greybeard galloper Equator Kid back into the winner's circle in a tough American Club Challenge Cup (1,800m) at today's Happy Valley meeting.
The nine-year-old has been an infrequent winner throughout his career but it was hard to miss his first-up performance at Sha Tin when Equator Kid charged to the line as well as the winner - Dao Dao - to finish third over 1,600m.
Reeling off that slick final sectional showed Equator Kid has returned in good form and this trip looks more suitable but Whyte's tactical nous might provide the key element if the gelding is to convert his obvious well-being into a victory.
The field contains two regular forward runners in Lucky Money (Way Leung Ming-wai) and Kingsgate Glory (Kevin Shea) but unless those jockeys are keen to take each other on, the pace may not be hectic, with a high proportion of runners preferring to steady early.
Too often Equator Kid has given too much start but he has responded well when put into his races early - including a win for Glyn Schofield over the Valley 1,650m when he sat outside the leader last year - and an inside gate, the longer trip this time and Whyte's alert navigation could prove the keys to him being in a more positive position today.
Whyte has ridden the gelding three times previously for a win, a third and a fourth, so he gets along well with the old-timer.
