By Alan Carasso
The ultimate endorsement of Secret Weapon (GB) (Choisir {Aus})'s chances in Saturday's Centenary Vase H. came from 13-time leading jockey Douglas Whyte, who agreed to make the 113-pound impost (115 with a two-pound overweight allowed), a weight at which he nearly never rides. The betting public jumped on board and would have had many anxious moments over the last 20 seconds of the race before Whyte and Secret Weapon pulled the rabbit out of the hat.
Settled in midfield early on and buried down on the fence as Romantic Touch (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}) led from Khaya (NZ) (Librettist), Secret Weapon held that spot as the 'Durban Demon' held his breath, hoping that the gaps would come. The duo first went for a run between January Cup winner Flame Hero (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) and Bubble Chic (Fr) (Chichicastenango {Fr}), but the room never materialized and it was on to plans B and C. Strung up again behind horses as Romantic Touch looked home free, Whyte took a quick look over his right shoulder and came over in front of Dominant (Ire) (Cacique {Ire}) and dropped down onto the fence. Still, the front-runner looked to have well and truly sealed the deal, but Secret Weapon showed an explosive turn of speed in the final 50 yards to score by an ultimately comfortable margin. Of those behind, Gun Pit (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}) ran on well to be two-lengths' sixth under 133 pounds as he prepares for a dirt campaign at the Dubai World Cup Carnival.
“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. “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.” Click for the HKJC.com chart. VIDEO.
Saturday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
CENTENARY VASE H., HK$3,000,000 (US$385,084), Sha Tin, 2-6, 3yo/up, 1800mT, 1:47.21, gd.
1–#SECRET WEAPON (GB), 115, g, 6, Choisir (Aus)–Just Devine (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). O-Leung Lin Ping; B-Carmel Stud; T-Dennis Yip; J-Douglas Whyte; HK$1,710,000. Lifetime Record: 13-6-0-2, HK$5,282,670. *1/2 to Code Red (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}), MSW-Eng.
2–Romantic Touch (Aus), 120, g, 5, Northern Meteor (Aus)–Dearness (Aus), by Snippets (Aus). O-Ming Shui Sum & Alice Ming Bo Ting. HK$660,000.
3–Flame Hero (NZ), 119, g, 6, Savabeel (Aus)–Rhysess (NZ), by Pins (Aus). (NZ$28,000 Ylg '11 NZBSEL; NZ$240,000 2yo 11 NZBRTR). O-Amy Li Chi Lin, April Tsui Siu Yee & Ben Tsui Sui Lun. HK$345,000.
Margins: HF, NK, HF. Odds: 22-10, 39-10, 33-1.
Also Ran: Packing Llaregyb (Ire), Top Act (NZ), Gun Pit (Aus), Harbour Master, Bubble Chic (Fr), Dominant (Ire), Helene Happy Star (Ire), Kabayan (Aus), Helene Super Star, Khaya (NZ), Celestial Smile (NZ). Scratched: Travel Brother (GB), Mr Gnocchi (Aus).
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