David Hayes is relishing a banner season and the two-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer (1997/98 & 1998/99) is aiming to add Sunday’s (2 March) HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) to a trio of Group 1 races won this term with star sprinter Ka Ying Rising.
Represented by Rubylot and Mondial in the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, Hayes won this race in 1999 with Resfa and is hoping to enhance a championship-leading 33 wins when he saddles nine runners across the afternoon’s 10-race programme.
Drawn in barrier eight, Rubick gelding Rubylot is the field’s most experienced racer with 17 Hong Kong starts to his name. He has won five times so far and Hayes – an Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductee – expects his charge to respond positively to stamina queries.
“He’s going well, he really is going well. He’s trialled well between runs and he’s crying out for 1800 metres,” Hayes said. “He finished well last start and I think he’s going to run well.”
Rubylot is a winner in Hong Kong over 1000m, 1200m and 1400m. The 93-rater roared into sixth place from barrier 10 in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) – the first leg of the three-race Four-Year-Old Classic Series which climaxes on 23 March with the 148th running of the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m).
Rubylot sports the recognisable white and blue silks of the HK Football Club Horse Racing Syndicate. The HK$8.26 million earner pairs with in-form rider Brenton Avdulla – a winner of nine races through February.
“I used to train for the Football Club Syndicate years ago when I was first here and I currently have Snowalot, Rubylot and Decrelot with them. Decrelot is running on the weekend, and I think he’ll improve when he hits a mile,” Hayes said.
Decrelot features in Sunday’s Class 4 Yan Oi Tong Handicap (1400m). Mondial makes his Hong Kong debut in the Hong Kong Classic Cup. The South African import placed at Group 1 level pre-import in the G1 South Africa Derby (2450m).
“His last trial was better. He’s a clear 2000 metre or 2400 horse. He’s a Group 1 performer overseas and his last trial was good. I’ve spoken to his previous trainer (s) and he told me he couldn’t beat the stable pony in a track gallop – meaning he’s very lazy,” Hayes said.
Victorious in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, My Wish heads the Hong Kong Classic Cup field.
Sunday’s (2 March) 10-race fixture at Sha Tin kicks off at 1pm with the Class 4 Fu Tai Handicap (1000m).
By Declan Schuster
