Secret Weapon fired a warning shot at Hong Kong’s established Pattern race stars with an impressive victory in this afternoon’s (6 February) HKG3 Centenary Vase (Handicap) that belied its half-length margin and justified the faith of jockey Douglas Whyte and trainer Dennis Yip.
Whyte no doubt skipped a lunch or two to ride the 113lb-weighted favourite in the 1800m feature, putting up the allowable 2lb overweight to tip the scales at 115lb, the lightest he has ridden at this season.
“Secret Weapon has always indicated that he’s a half-decent animal and I haven’t ridden that weight for a good couple of years, so that should have given the hint,” said the former 13-time champion jockey, adding: “That’s almost seven pounds off to get down to that!”
Yip added: “When I left for New Zealand to attend the yearling sale I already knew that Secret Weapon would carry 113 pounds in today’s race, and I asked Douglas (Whyte) if he would ride the horse for me,” said Yip. “He spent two days considering it and he eventually gave me a reply, ‘yes, I will make the weight to ride for you’. That Douglas was willing to make the weight reflects the ability this horse has. It was tough for Douglas to ride at this weight but we achieved the result – it was a breathtaking win.”
Whyte settled the talented six-year-old mid pack, holding an inside line, and all went smoothly until the turn for home. From that point on the South African found himself checking, shifting, stalling and switching as he looked outside and in for a clear route home.
“Derek Leung (Flame Hero) didn’t know if he wanted to go left or right and I’d originally planned for a run between him and Bubble Chic, but he drifted out so I’ve eased and gone in and he’s taken me right across to the rail,” said Whyte.
Romantic Touch set the pace from the off, jockey Neil Callan repelling would-be challengers for the lead and setting quick fractions in the process. Callan was still at the fore with the home stretch rapidly diminishing, arms pumping to hold off closing assailants - first Packing Llaregyb and then Flame Hero – but Secret Weapon’s late thrust was too much.
Whyte’s mount overcame a stop-start stretch run to shoot down the rail through the final half-furlong and head Romantic Touch close home. It was an easy half-length at the finish.
“He’s won well - he’s won with a bit in hand. I haven’t really let him down and tested him and he’s still finished two to their one,” said Whyte, after the Choisir gelding had stopped the clock at 1m 47.21s for his fifth win in 11 Hong Kong starts and his first in Pattern company. “I really do see him as a horse that can continue to go up and up. He’s given me too good a feel too many times.”
The winning trainer echoed that sentiment: “He is a lightly-raced six-year-old and I hope he can improve further. If he keeps progressing well, hopefully he can run in Group 2 or even Group 1 races in future.
“Distance-wise, today he won over 1800m and I will also try him over 2000m,” said Yip. “It all depends on his new rating after winning this race and the programme before I make a decision about the next target.”
Romantic Touch held on for second, a neck ahead of Flame Hero, with Packing Llaragyb a further neck away in fourth. Top-weight Gun Pit ran with credit to finish a closing sixth under 133lb as he prepares for a Dubai campaign.
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Photo 1:
Photos 1, 2
Dennis Yip-trained Secret Weapon (No. 12), with Douglas Whyte in the saddle, wins the Centenary Vase (HKG3-1800m) at Sha Tin Racecourse today.
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Photo 2
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Photo 3:
Connections of Secret Weapon celebrate their victory at the winners' circle after the race.
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Photo 4:
Photos 4, 5, 6
Mr Stephen Ip Shu Kwan, a Steward of the HKJC, presents the Centenary Vase trophy to Leung Lun Ping, winning owner of Secret Weapon, as well as silver dishes to trainer Dennis Yip and jockey Douglas Whyte.
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Photo 5
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Photo 6
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Photo 7:
HKJC Stewards, Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and winning connections of Secret Weapon take a group photo at the presentation ceremony of the Centenary Vase.
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