'Not forgetting he beat Pyledriver at Kempton' - Jim McGrath with three fancies

Shanghai Grace
7.00 Sha Tin
2pts win

Enjoying
8.05 Sha Tin
2pts win

Righteous Doctrine
8.35 Sha Tin
2pts win

Trainer Douglas Whyte can wind back the clock when saddling two major chances in the Class 2 handicap, over 1m2f (8.05), one of the Boxing Day features on a bumper 11-race card at Sha Tin.

Such was his domination during a 13-year reign as champion jockey, Whyte was known as the ‘Durban Demon,’ and although he has not yet made the same impact in his new profession, it is early days and there are signs he is building a strong team.

Two of his most promising, Enjoying and Thinkin’ Big, go head-to-head in a staying contest full of tactical intrigue, with the pair being ridden, each for the first time, by Christophe Soumillon and Joao Moreira respectively.

It is fair to say Whyte has booked two of the shrewdest jockeys in the game, and the race promises to be a highlight on a fascinating programme that also features three races on the dirt track.

Thinkin’ Big, by High Chaparral, was a beaten favourite in the Victoria Derby, and twice a Group 3 winner in Australia, while Enjoying, by Dundeel (High Chaparral), won two Group 2 races in Australia.

The profile similarities do not end there, as both are still maidens in Hong Kong but come to this after promising previous runs. With Reliable Team expected to take up the early running, Thinkin’ Big can cross over and be handy, but expect Enjoying, the selection, to swoop late.

The other Class 2 handicap (8.35), over 1m½f, is on dirt and features the ex-Andrew Balding three-year-old Berlin Tango, who must make improvement (and probably will) on his first outing locally, not forgetting that he beat Pyledriver in the Classic trial on the Kempton all-weather in June.

But Righteous Doctrine, with Zac Purton aboard for the first time, will again be the value bet, particularly up against dirt specialist Elusive State, who will be short odds.

Another Purton booking, for Shanghai Grace in the Class 4 handicap (7.00), also over 1m½f dirt, set off alarm bells.

The champion has never previously ridden the gelding, a three-time winner on the all-weather for Charlie Hills before export, and this looks ideal for him.

TOTE PLACEPOT

Race 6 (1st leg): 11 Double Take, 12 Shanghai Grace

Race 7 (2nd leg): 6 Cheerful Days, 7 Casimiro

Race 8 (3rd leg): 4 Enjoying, 8 Thinkin’ Big

Race 9 (4th leg): 1 Elusive State, 8 Righteous Doctrine

Race 10 (5th leg): 1 Wellington, 3 Propice

Race 11 (6th leg): 5 Amazing News, 9 Ka Ying Excellent

View Sha Tin's 11-race card here

Bet through the Tote

Bets can be placed into Hong Kong pools with the Tote, Coral and Ladbrokes. The first race at Sha Tin on Saturday is at 4.30am

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