No-one who witnessed Douglas Whyte annihilate his Jockey Challenge rivals in three straight race victories last Wednesday would want to be on any other rider in tonight's edition of the competition where he boasts a full book of eight rides.
Whyte was simply majestic as he reeled off wins in races six, seven and eight last week to sweep his opposition away and assert his position as clearly the most successful Jockey Challenge title winner.
This evening Whyte has the benefit of being picked up by trainers Danny Shum Chap-shing and John Moore for two mounts that would normally have been the domain of Darren Beadman, who is now serving the first day of a careless riding suspension.
Speedy Bondi Lad (Shum) was installed a $18 favourite by early players for the second event, while Packing Supreme (Moore) heads the markets at $32 for the seventh.
Whyte is also down to ride $22 favourite Mi Reilly for long-time friend Alex Wong Yu-on in the sixth race, and their winning strike rate this season is an incredible 33 per cent.
However, there is a downside to the obvious and in racing, that downside is expressed as a price. At last night's 7pm call, Whyte was a $1.60 favourite to land the Challenge, with Brett Prebble second elect at $5.50 and in-form 10-pound claiming apprentice Derek Leung Ka-chun third choice at $8.
