Douglas Whyte gets change of luck as he teams up with Hugh Bowman to fire in Happy Valley double

South China Morning Post

07-05-2025

Douglas Whyte was given two big reasons to smile at Happy Valley on Wednesday night as Goko Win and Ivy League gave him his first winners for over a month.
His last success came in the form of Golden Darci way back on April 2 and victory for Goko Win in the Class Four Chantilly Handicap (1,200m) looked unlikely for much of the journey.
Hugh Bowman had to use all his strength to pick a path between horses, with the $2 favourite getting up in the final stride to deny $42 roughie My Day My Way – much to the delight of a relieved Whyte.
'He's been the victim of circumstance quite a few times this season,' said Whyte. 'He's had to do it the hard way and he's not the youngest individual – he's getting on in age.
Straight through the middle! 👌
Goko Win scores narrowly at Happy Valley under @HugeBowman over a fast-finishing My Day My Way... @DJWhyteTrainer #HappyWednesday | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/kOg80LrObu — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 7, 2025
'It didn't look pretty at the 500m and he looked in trouble, but he showed a bit of tenacity to get through a gap and he did a job to hit the line as strong as he did.
'Hugh made the difference – when you're riding with confidence like that you're always going to make the difference.
'I personally think that an old horse like him winning a race like that in-between horses [and] gaining a bit of confidence, with a light weight in a Class Three, he would be competitive.'
Things got even better for Whyte later on the card when Ivy League – himself winless since a course-and-distance triumph in April 2024 – battled on bravely to win the second section of the Class Four Saint-Cloud Handicap (1,650m).
Galileo gelding Ivy League edges Thesis to secure a @HugeBowman and @DJWhyteTrainer double! ✌️
Formerly trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien, Ivy League is now a three-time winner in Hong Kong... 🇮🇪#HappyWednesday | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/8Qc5SKEAkU — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 7, 2025
Having his first run in the grade, Bowman settled him in fourth and the pair travelled up ominously well at the turn. They were made to work hard by an ultra-game Thesis, but Ivy League got the better of the argument by a short head.
Whyte, who had endured 50 winless runners, was full of praise for Bowman, who managed to scramble both his winners home by the shortest of margins.
'Everything worked out really well [for Ivy League] tonight, it was a typical Hugh Bowman ride,' said Whyte. 'Ivy League managed to get cover tonight and he's a different horse when he gets it – he relaxes and has a bit to give at the end.
'The draw worked out well, the pace worked out well and he got his head down at the right time. Recently, with some light weights, he's led, which I don't think is the best way to ride him, but due to a lack of pace he's found himself there.
'But tonight, with a bit of cover, Hugh has produced him at the right time.
'It has been a quiet month – a lot of horses have been highly rated, a lot have been unlucky, but tonight everything has fallen into place.'
It was another win in a brilliant season for Bowman, who hit the 60-winner mark with Ivy League's never-say-die success.
'I think we got a bit lucky with the bob of the head there, I haven't seen the replay but I wasn't convinced I had won,' said Bowman.
'He really put in for me. He was aided by a really sweet passage in the race but he was there when I needed him.
'Goko Win was down in class and I was beaten for speed but he travelled superbly and I got the gap in the straight to get the run through and he was solid.'