Smith backs Whyte ahead of inquiry

– Lindsey Smith has defended Douglas Whyte, with an inquiry pending regarding the jockey’s ride on Scales Of Justice in the Kingston Town Classic.

Smith, trainer of the Railway Stakes winner, said he had no issue with the ride of Whyte, who appeared to stop riding eventual runner-up Scales Of Justice for a fleeting moment in the dying stages of the Classic, won narrowly by Stratum Star.

The trainer explained it was his belief Whyte thought he was to be comfortably beaten by Stratum Star, ridden by Damian Lane, but the horse only ended up winning by a 0.05-length margin.

“After the post, I thought Douglas gave it his last push,” Smith told Racing.com’s Racing Ahead on RSN 927.

“I think he thought the horse (Stratum Star) had him on the outside, and without disrespecting the winner, my horse had more desire than the winner.

“I think the winner could have hit the line a little bit better, to be honest. I think it was a little bit of both.

“If he’s misjudged it , well that’s for him to answer.

“I didn’t speak to Douglas after the race about that, he just said the horse gave him everything.

“I don’t think the horse (Scales Of Justice) could have won, my horse was gone and I think the horse on the outside should have won a bit easier. I thought he had me a couple of strides earlier.”

Smith well-and-truly threw his weight behind the Hong Kongbased South African jockey - “If there was a race tomorrow, Douglas Whyte would ride the horse.” – www.racing.com