In the finale at Wednesday night's meeting at Happy Valley, the Class 2 Aberdeen Handicap (1200m), the Francis Lui-trained Born In China claimed his first win in more than two years.

Second to last term’s Champion Griffin, Premiere, over 1000m last month, Douglas Whyte’s mount went one better this time to win by three quarters of a length from Archippus.

“He’s just a transformed horse since Francis gave him six months off,” Whyte said. “He’s had issues, enough that he just didn’t feel good, and he was scratched a couple of times. I said they needed to get to the bottom of it and give him some time off, which they did.

“Now he’s absolutely flying. He’d mix it with some of the decent ones in a nice handicap.”

Born In China, returned at 5.6, won the Britannia Handicap (1600m) at Royal Ascot back in June 2014 when known as Born In Bombay.

“His first couple of runs when he came here, the way he used to win with me here, and even at Sha Tin when he flashed home and ran second to a good horse, Amazing Kids – we’ve always known he had ability. When he’s feeling right he can let down, he’s got a motor,” Whyte said.

Apprentice Dylan Mo also notched a brace thanks to the Almond Lee-trained Ocean Roar, a 34/1 shot, in race two and the Me Tsui-trained Curling Luxury (8.7) in the night’s fourth event.

Frankie Lor extended seven clear in the trainers’ premiership after the 5.5 chance Who Else But You scraped home in the seventh, the Class 3 Tai Tam Handicap (1200m), under a punching Nash Rawiller drive. The victory was the gelding’s second in this term’s Million Challenge, lifting him to co-leadership with 30 points.

Trainer David Ferraris and jockey Karis Teetan snared the opener with Rock The Tree (9/1), while jockey Keith Yeung and trainer Richard Gibson teamed up to take race three with the 53/1 longshot, Starlot.

Hong Kong racing resumes at Sha Tin on Saturday, 11 November.



Douglas Whyte pilots Born In China to success in the Class 2 finale, picture Hong Kong Jockey Club