He spent his childhood watching trainer Douglas Whyte dominate as a jockey and the moment wasn’t lost on young South African Luke Ferraris after the pair combined for their first winner on Sunday.

Ferraris grew up at Sha Tin while his father David plied his trade as a trainer in Hong Kong, with his countryman Whyte the dominant force in the riding ranks for the first half of the 21-year-old’s life as he reeled off 13 consecutive jockeys’ premierships.

“It was nice to ride a winner for Douglas. We were joking about it and the full circle from the days I was sitting on the fence watching him ride, so to ride a winner for him is pretty special. It’s a bit overdue, but I’m happy it’s come,” Ferraris said.

Ferraris and Whyte were combining for the 18th time with The Good Deal in the Class Five Lam Tsuen River Handicap (1,200m), while the five-year-old was shedding his maiden status at start 16.

“He didn’t have a good draw, but all credit to the stable. He’s improved a lot,” Ferraris said. “I went back on him and he seemed to enjoy that. He finished sharply and hit the line.”

The Good Deal began his career with Chris So Wai-yin, finishing 12th in his only run for the handler, before a best finish of fifth in 13 starts for Michael Chang Chun-wai.

The Good Deal ran third in his first start for Whyte after travelling just off the speed under Ferraris at Happy Valley, before breaking through at start two for his newest trainer following a patient ride at the back of the field from barrier 12.

“He came in good condition. All credit to Michael. He didn’t have much luck with him,” Whyte said.

“The horse has improved. He’s settled in well. His first run I thought was quite eye-catching. He came out of the gates, he was up on the speed, and he just knocked up the last part.

“Today, we chose to ride him differently and he hit the line really strongly. The way he hit the line tells me he wanted to win, and to me, it looks like he’s got another win in store.

“[Luke] hasn’t had that many rides [for me], to be fair to him. He’s had a couple, and he’s knocked up a few places. He rode him a treat the other day, and there was no reason not to give him the ride back.”

Whyte rung up a double thanks to a superb ride from Harry Bentley aboard outsider Wonder Years in the Class Four Sha Tau Kok River Handicap (2,000m).

Travelling last in a race completely devoid of pace, Bentley took off 1,200m from home and $41 chance Wonder Years found enough late to hold off Kowloon Great by half a length.

“Harry summed it up beautifully. I said to him to get going whenever you feel the horse is travelling, but he got going a long way out and it was the winning move,” Whyte said.

“He’s been a good horse to my stable. He’s over 17 hands – a big boy – and he’s now mature. The giving ground has helped him, and the races in Hong Kong are not long enough for him, but he’s done a good job so far,” Whyte added after Wonder Years’ third win at start 20.

Yiu Express keeps chugging

Ricky Yiu Poon-fai claimed Sunday afternoon’s Class Two contest on his way to a double, with Spirited Express enjoying a bit of a give in the ground in the Beas River Handicap (1,600m).

A winner of the 2021 Group Two Wellington Guineas (1,400m) when trained by Jamie Richards in New Zealand, Spirited Express was given a rating of 80 on arrival in Hong Kong and will now find himself on a mark in the 90s after his second Class Two success.

“His form in New Zealand was mostly on a yielding track, so the horse enjoyed it very much today. Out of the last few mornings, this morning was the worst because it was really raining for half an hour,” Yiu said.

“One of the reasons I like this horse is because he tries hard and he’s consistent. I would think he has more to give,” the veteran trainer added after Spirited Express ran on nicely from behind midfield under Alexis Badel to edge Amazing Victory and Bourbonaire in a race run over three seconds outside standard.

Yiu’s brace came thanks to Golden Artie’s victory in the Class Three Pearce Memorial Challenge Cup (1,400m), and he continues his pursuit of John Size in the trainers’ premiership.

He sits just three winners behind the 11-time champion with 45 victories and pulled two clear of Frankie Lor Fu-chuen into outright second after 58 of the season’s 88 meetings.

Saluting for the first time in Hong Kong at start six, Golden Artie’s victory ensured Silvestre de Sousa was a winner on the track two days after his success in the stewards’ room.

De Sousa’s decision to appeal his three-meeting suspension and HK$60,000 fine for careless riding aboard Soaring Tower on March 19 paid off, with stewards waiving the fine and reducing his ban by one meeting.