Australian jockey Brett Prebble was unable to overtake Douglas Whyte on the final day of the Hong Kong racing season, finishing one behind the South African in the jockeys' premiership.The gripping battle for Hong Kong's riding honours went down to the final meeting at Happy Valley on Wednesday with Whyte prevailing to claim his 10th straight title.Prebble needed to win three races without response from Whyte and although the South African didn't ride a winner on the night, Prebble could only ma

Australian jockey Brett Prebble was unable to overtake Douglas Whyte on the final day of the Hong Kong racing season, finishing one behind the South African in the jockeys' premiership.

The gripping battle for Hong Kong's riding honours went down to the final meeting at Happy Valley on Wednesday with Whyte prevailing to claim his 10th straight title.

Prebble needed to win three races without response from Whyte and although the South African didn't ride a winner on the night, Prebble could only manage one to fall just short.

"It just wasn't meant to be," Prebble told the South China Morning Post.

"There wasn't a lot I could do about tonight. It was going to be hard and ended up impossible."

Whyte was in the jockeys' room for the third last race of the night when the premiership was finally decided.

Prebble had yet to ride a winner and when his mount Jumbo Gold could only finish second, his premiership bid was over.

"It's an unusual feeling - I don't think I've ever won a championship from the room like that as a spectator and I don't think it will ever happen again," Whyte told the paper.

"You know me, I would always prefer to be out there in the action.

"But it's been a very satisfying win, definitely the best of my 10 championships.

"I think Brett and I really stretched each other, really put it out there and it doesn't get old winning these. It's always a thrill."