WHYTE BACK IN THE RACE

How many twists and turns can the intriguing race for the Hong Kong jockeys' premiership take?

Just when Australian Brett Prebble appeared to have sewn up the title with his six-pack of wins to Douglas Whyte's one on June 24 putting him nine ahead, Whyte came out yesterday and rode five winners while Prebble did not trouble the scorer.

The upshot is that South African Whyte closed to within four, 96-92, and remains a chance to catch Prebble with five meetings and 48 races to be run before season's end on July 14. Prebble is seeking his first title, and to halt Whyte's premiership run before it hits 10 straight. The next meeting is at Sha Tin on Thursday.

Three of Whyte's wins yesterday came in partnership with Australian trainer John Size, who with 69 for the season seems to have secured the training crown. Last year's champion Caspar Fownes is next on 60 from Australian John Moore 56.

One of Whyte's winners, the Size-trained and Australian-bred Entrapment (1/10 favourite) in the Juvenile Sprint Trophy (1200m), became the first Hong Kong horse to win seven races in a season.

Entrapment (b g 2006, Halo Homewrecker (USA)-Miabondialee, by Vettori (IRE)) was bought for $16,000 at the Magic Millions weanling sale on the Gold Coast in 2007 and, on-sold for $NZ45,000 at the New Zealand Carnival Yearling Sale at Karaka early in 2008.

SCENIC BLAST FOURTH

At Hollywood Park, California, Australian Group 1 sprinter Scenic Blast was unplaced in his American debut over 1200m yesterday. Racing on Lasix to overcome bleeding problems, Scenic Blast finished more than three lengths from the winner, My Summer Slew.

PROFOUND BEAUTY SECOND

At the Curragh in Ireland, Melbourne Cup hope Profound Beauty, trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Pat Smullen, finished second at 9/10 in the Group 3 Curragh Cup (2800m) behind 5/1 chance Tactic (John Dunlop, Tadgh O'Shea) on Sunday.

Coolmore's trainer Aidan O'Brien had the trifecta in the Group 1 Irish Derby (2400m) - Cape Blanco 1, Midas Touch 2, Jan Vermeer 3. The first two home are by former Coolmore shuttler Galileo.

BURRIDGE UP, DURIC DOWN

Singapore raced on Friday and Saturday, when one Victorian, Steven Burridge, maintained his lead in the trainers' premiership - 45-34 from New Zealander Laurie Laxon - but another, Vlad Duric, slipped further behind Joao Moreira in the jockeys' race. Moreira leads Duric 58-47. The season runs until the end of the year, with the next meeting on Friday.