It was just like old times as 13-time champion jockey Douglas Whyte hit the ground running with an opening day treble, scoring twice for Richard Gibson after an early win for David Ferraris.

Plain Blue Banner started the ball rolling for the South African, and he soon followed up with Gold Dragon and Travel Renyi for Gibson, who handed Whyte a lot of the credit for the latter.

"This horse has got some talent, but he's a bit complicated - he lays in and it cost him a race on protest last season and he wanted to lay in again today," Gibson said.

"You've got to sit and wait with him and a big thanks to the champion jockey for a great ride.

"I'm really pleased the horse has won a race because the owner has been very loyal, the horse didn't have the best of luck most of last season and, as I said, he had lost one after getting across the line first."

Gold Dragon finally brought his barrier trial form to the races after some disappointments last season as a three-year-old and his win, ridden more quietly behind a torrid speed, didn't surprise Whyte.

"His trial the other day was amazing. He just wants to drop back and find the line, he isn't in for the bun fight - he is just too immature for that and tends to over-do things," he explained.

"At the back end of his races, where he needed to knuckle down and hit the line, he was just losing the plot before, but the leader going 21 seconds and change through that second section helped him get comfortable. He didn't beat much today, but I think he will learn off that."

Gibson said the gelding had been held back somewhat by health problems, but had presented in top shape this time.

"It all fell into place. We might step him up to a dirt mile, that might suit him," he said.

Whyte's first for the term came in Class Five and the jockey had finished second on Plain Blue Banner for Ferraris in the same race on opening day, 2014, when the Class Five battler had drawn a wide barrier.

He had turned up two weeks later to win from from gate one and, back in gate one yesterday made all the difference.