Jockey Club oddsmakers had issued opening markets for the Jockey Challenge with Whyte a pronounced 1.90 favourite, though he eased to 2.5 after good support for a number of other riders, including the Challenge winner Brett Prebble, who was supported from 13.0 to 7.0.

"I was actually a bit surprised at the odds they had me to win the Challenge today considering the rides I had and quite a few of them with bad draws," said Whyte.

"But it was nice to see Silent Dragon in that kind of form today and get one home."

Silent Dragon has been most consistent in a relatively limited career, but Whyte believes the best of him has not often been seen.

"Full credit to David, he's a decent horse but he has had plenty of problems and it probably has been a good effort to win three races with him," Whyte said after taking the fourth race in a common canter up the straight 1,000 metres. "That was the real Silent Dragon today and it was great to see but, apart from one or two gallops at times, we haven't seen that version of him.

"There was a bit of ease underfoot and that probably had a lot to do with it, but Silent Dragon really did let go this afternoon.

"He had the outside rail draw and was able to dominate the speed and that was great because I could just sit on him and do nothing until the 200 metres," he added.

The victory left Whyte just four short of his 1,000th Hong Kong career success.