Racing: Carter profits on cast-off

GARY CARTER, who leaves to ride in Hong Kong next month, was an appropriate winning jockey on Smarginato in yesterday's Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicap at Sandown.

Pat Eddery and Willie Carson both turned down the ride on John Dunlop's colt, but neither could even make the frame as Carter brought Smarginato with a decisive run from a furlong out. River North, the 3-1 favourite, came to challenge near the line but never looked likely to prevail.

'I've been to Hong Kong three times on holiday, but I've never ridden there,' Carter said. The jockey has signed a one-year contract with Sha Tin trainer Derek Cruz and leaves next month to acclimatise before the start of the Hong Kong season in mid-September.

Smarginato's win was his fifth from 10 starts, but he is unlikely to attempt his sixth in the Schweppes Golden Mile at Goodwood. The grey is Italian-owned, and more likely to be appearing in Rome and Milan.