Plain sailing for Whyte and Jun Huo in Valley feature

04/05/2016

Douglas Whyte and Francis Lui teamed up to take the feature race at Happy Valley tonight (4 May) as Jun Huo enjoyed a dream run in the Victoria Racing Club Trophy (Handicap).

The six-year-old, having his first start in Class 1, scored by a length and a quarter from the Caspar Fownes-trained Twin Delight (119lb) with the Paul O’Sullivan-trained Star Majestic (113lb) a running-on third, a further three-quarters of a length away.

“They went real slow and I made use of his weight,” said Whyte, who put up 1lb over in the 1800m contest at 117lb. 

The South African was keen to gain a forward posse from gate eight in the nine-runner field and soon had his mount settled a close second outside the pace-setting Twin Delight. That pace was on the slack side, a factor that played into Jun Huo’s hands.

“It wasn’t a stamina 1800 (metres), it was a real soft 1800 and that’s why he was able to kick and kick up,” said Whyte, who had the race in the bag once he had driven the Excellent Art ridgling to the lead above the 150m point. “He was flat at the line. It was a decent enough effort and he’s really improved as an individual – he’ll go on from here again. It feels like there is more there.”

Trainer Lui was of the same view. The British import, a five-time winner from 12 Hong Kong starts, began the season rated 80 and lined up tonight 13 points higher off the back of a last start triumph.

“He did that very nicely – he’s a more consistent horse now,” said Lui. “Before, he had a minor leg problem, an old joint problem, but that has not been bothering him lately and he’s able to show his ability. He’s a big horse and I think he can continue to improve. It’s hard to say whether he has enough in him to progress above Class 1, but time will tell.”

Jun Huo, a 5.0 shot, stopped the clock outside standard at 1m 50.80s. The 2.1 race favourite, Got Fly (128lb), was a never dangerous seventh under Joao Moreira.