HK JAN 20 - WHYTE LANDS GROUP 1 DOUBLE. TAKES OUT BOTH THE STEWARD'S CUP AND HK CLASSIC MILE

By Hong Kong Jockey Club | Sunday, January 20, 2013

Glorious Days fulfilled his immense potential and ensured that Douglas Whyte had an afternoon to remember with a storming victory in the HKG1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) at Sha Tin this afternoon, Sunday 20 January.

Hong Kong’s 12-time champion jockey headed home from Sha Tin Racecourse with a Group 1 double in the bag, after John Size’s star miler augmented Whyte’s victory of some 35 minutes earlier atop Gold-Fun in the HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Mile.

The Size-trained Glorious Days had always promised to deliver at the top level and the five-year-old was in devastating form as he powered home by three quarters of a length from Dan Excel to notch a first top-flight triumph. The strong-closing LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) hero California Memory was the same distance back in third with Ambitious Dragon a disappointing fourth.

“He always promised to deliver a performance like that and today the race was very fast run and he was able to take advantage of that tempo,” said Size, who was winning the contest for the fifth time following Electronic Unicorn (2002 & 2003), Super Kid (2004) and Armada (2007).

“It was run so the overall time would be quick and it was, so it’s a very good performance for him. He’s improved through the winter and probably he’s reached his best today.”

Glorious Days leveled the score at two apiece with Ambitious Dragon for the season as he avenged defeat in last month’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile. The five-year-old stopped the clock at 1m 33.75s after settling fifth in the run behind the pace-setting Leading City.

“I could have been anywhere from the break but they took me along too quickly for my liking so I’ve popped back and it was as if I’ve separated two races,” commented Whyte. “I’ve had four in front of me and the rest behind and I was very comfortable where I was.

“He was stronger today than he felt last time and he ran on with a bit of purpose. Last time I thought I rode a perfect race and Ambitious Dragon was just too good on the day. Today I waited a fraction longer but I think had I gone earlier he would have still quickened up; and he was very strong at the line, which he hasn’t been in the past. The penny’s dropping and he’s transforming into a racehorse!”

“He just hasn’t had the mental game - he’s a year behind them, he’s like a young kid that hasn’t matured or grown up. I’ve always said to John, there’s so much untapped potential there and lets just hope he can continue to maintain his form – he’ll be a force to reckon with in those mile races.”

Glorious Days could head next to the HKG1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on 17 March with an overseas option later in the season.

“There’s a 1400m race and other mile races, so it’s mapped out for us in Hong Kong,” said Size. “I think the Yasuda Kinen’s (Japan in June) an ideal race for him. He went last year. He’s had the experience, he travelled beautifully, so I think he’ll go back a different horse this year and he’ll probably perform a lot better.”

Ambitious Dragon failed to reproduce his best form, with Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year lacking the electric turn-of-foot that has characterized his finest performances.

“Prior to straightening out it was a little bit tight and I had to hold my ground a bit but he was able to go through there and I thought coming into the straight I was still going to win the race,” said Purton, “but when I let him go he just never let down today like he has been.”

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