DURBAN-born Douglas Whyte has won his 13th straight Hong Kong Jockeys Title after a duel with Australian, Zac Purton, who finished eight winners adrift of the South African after the last meeting of the season, losing touch late.

Doug Whyte.

“It has been a great battle, it certainly kept me motivated because I love a challenge,” Whyte said. “But you know the turning point was when Zac got a bit up himself and threw out a few chirps. You know, we need characters like him because that’s what keeps the game going, but actions speak louder than words and I prefer to keep my chirps on the racetrack.

“I’m glad I’m not one of those that puts his hand in the beehive. When he had a go at me about a few things, he probably thought he was home and dry but I find another gear – it motivates me. I think Brett Prebble did the same one year as well – I was eight or nine behind with only a few meetings to go and he released something to the press in Australia and I got up to beat him by one.”