Followers of Brett Prebble might find the price of HK$3.40 about him in today's Jockey Challenge enticing - until they look at the incredible book of rides that Douglas Whyte takes into this feature meeting.
Champion jockey Whyte has mounts in each of the 11 races and the number of winning chances he's been given is only limited by your opinion of the form.
His book is extraordinary, and even the most pessimistic prognosticator would concede him to have winning chances in seven or eight races. Jockey Club odds makers threw up HK$1.50 about Whyte last night and the usual process in such circumstances is for punters to stay clear, hoping to entice the in-house bookies to let the Durban Demon out a roll-of-the-board or two.
But there was no such manoeuvre last night, with Whyte remaining at the short quote throughout the late afternoon and evening, and he will almost certainly remain there. Prebble also has a strong book of rides and between the two expatriates, they could dominate this day. Prebble might find himself in the unusual situation of riding three or four winners but losing the Jockey Challenge.
Whyte, ever the opportunist, has picked up the ride on Tremendous Plus from Vincent Sit Shun-keung in the opening event, and this recent arrival among the cellar dwellers should get the jockey's day off to a flyer.
New Chapter is one of the leading chances in race two, National Glory in blinkers for the first time should win the third and from that point, the Challenge should be a case of 'catch me if you can'.