Hong Kong hoop Douglas Whyte has been confirmed to ride the Chris Waller-trained visitor Life Less Ordinary in Saturday week’s 2017 Kingston Town Classic in Perth.
Hong Kong hoop Douglas Whyte rides the Chris Waller-trained Life Less Ordinary in Saturday week’s 2017 Kingston Town Classic field in Perth. Photo: Steve Hart.
Whyte is out to amend for his controversial ride and subsequent month suspension from the saddle for failing to ride out the second placed Scales Of Justice in last year’s Group 1 $1 million Kingston Town Classic (1800m).
The Lindsey Smith-trained local, coming off a lead-up win in the 2016 Railway Stakes, had to settle for the devastatingly close second to Darren Weir’s Victorian raider Stratum Star in the Kingston Town Classic results.
Connections of a different summer runner are giving Whyte the chance to atone in this year’s Kingston Town Classic on December 9 with the 13-time champion Hong Kong jockey to partner Life Less Ordinary.
Whyte was on Scales Of Justice last weekend for the horse’s title defence in the Railway Stakes and was originally set to retain the ride in the weight-for-age Kingston Town Classic.
Scales Of Justice faded out late to run a disappointing 12th behind upset winner Great Shot however and has instead been sent out to the paddock.
That opened it up for Sydney horseman Waller, of Winx fame, to secure the jockey’s services aboard Thewayyouare six-year-old Life Less Ordinary.
Waller’s galloper is currently rated a $13 chance in pre-field Kingston Town Classic odds at Ladbrokes.com.au that are firmly led by Black Heart Bart ($3.50) for last year’s winning trainer Weir.
The imported Life Less Ordinary chases his first win since April of this year and is second-up off a five week break following his second last (9th) in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) in Sydney.
He heads to Perth on the back of a second behind Odeon in the Listed Premium Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day and will be fitter for the run.
Whyte and Waller have previously combined for Kingston Town Stakes success back in 2014 with Moriarty who backed up from a Railway Stakes third to salute for the punters as that year’s equal favourite.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) granted Whyte the all clear to ride on Kingston Town Stakes Day 2017 and it will likely mark the last Perth appearance by a Hong Kong-based jockey.
From next year new policy will restrict riders to a single elite international Group 1 meeting, meaning should any be making the trip down under, it will be for the spring in Melbourne over the Perth summer features.
The official Kingston Town Classic 2017 Field is out next Monday, making now the time to check out the generous early odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.
