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Whyte's navigation will be key for classy Taverner

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Douglas Whyte will need to overcome a poor 'wrong side' draw in the Kowloon Tong Club Challenge Cup (1,000m) at Sha Tin today, but the perennial champion's presence might be enough to see Taverner shoulder the weight of expectation that is his constant companion.

Since he first set foot on a race course, big things have always been demanded from Taverner and that isn't about to change with his transfer to Paul O'Sullivan.

From the trials to his impressive Class Four debut and the soft Class Three victory that followed, many eyes including the handicapper's have been looking a year ahead to the Hong Kong Sprint and Taverner's potential emergence as a top grade force in the sprinting ranks.

Thrust up the ratings, the gelding hit a speed bump on his freeway to the top when he struck a wide draw and some decent opposition for the first time at his third run - this time on the circle for the first time when Always Something grabbed him on the line in what was nevertheless his best performance.

Inexperience then showed on international day over 1,200m after Taverner missed the start and found himself in an unfamiliar chasing role back in the field - it was a test to which he responded only fairly.

Owner Sidney Chiu then moved the sprinter from David Hall to O'Sullivan's yard, and the New Zealander has taken his time about producing Taverner.

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