Champion Hong Kong jockey Douglas Whyte will return to Perth to rekindle his bitter sweet relationship with race favourite Scales Of Justice in the Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday.

Black Heart Bart, above, is one of the main dangers to Scales Of Justice in the 2017 Railway Stakes at Ascot. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Whyte was able to steer Scales Of Justice to victory in last year’s Railway Stakes but then copped a one month suspension for failing to ride the Lindsey Smith trained gelding to the line when a nose second to Darren Weir’s Stratum Star in the Group 1 $1m Peters Investments-Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot a fortnight later.

Whyte pleaded not guilty to the steward’s charge of failing to ride the gelding out but decided against an appeal and told Smith and part owner Chris Wells that he would be happy to return to Perth to ride Scales Of Justice again.

“So I did strongly consider an appeal but I’ve now decided not to do that as I don’t want this matter to keep dragging out,” Whyte said.

“They (Smith and Wells) have both been terrific and have asked me to ride Scales Of Justice for them again in the future, which I look forward to. He’s a very nice horse.”

Scales Of Justice beat the Chris Waller trained Good Project in last year’s $1m Railway Stakes and is currently the $5.50 favourite with Ladbrokes.com.au to make it two in a row.

The five year old campaigned in Melbourne during the 2017 Spring Carnival for a second to Redkirk Warrior in the Group 2 $200,000 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) down the Flemington straight on September 16 but then missed a place when seventh to Santa Ana Lane in the Group 1 $500,000 Keno Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 1.

Smith then took Scales Of Justice back to the West to prepare for the Perth Summer Carnival and the five year old finished third behind Silverstream and Great Shot in the Group 2 $250,000 WAROA-Lee Steere Stakes (1400km) at Ascot on November 11.

Early betting for the 2017 Railway Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5.50 Scales Of Justice, $7 Supply And Demand, Black Heart Bart, $8 Tom Melbourne, $11 All Our Roads, $13 Ulmann, Sovereign Nation, $15 Silverstream, $17 Cosmic Storm, Variation, $21 Material Man, Pounamu, Royal Star (1st Em) $26 Great Shot, Gatting, $51 Disposition, Observational, $61 Tradesman (2nd Em), $101 Bollywood Blitz (3rd Em), Tonkatuff (4th Em).

Head to Ladbrokes.com.au for the latest Perth racing odds online.