David Hayes hopes Rubylot can capitalise on change of plans

By Leo Schlink

David Hayes hopes a change in plans with Rubylot will deliver victory this weekend at Sha Tin as the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) winner prepares for a tilt at the HK$28 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) on 27 April.

Hayes had initially scheduled Rubylot to trial over 1600m at Sha Tin on Tuesday (8 April) but after reviewing entries for the HK$3.72 million Class 1 Healthy Community Handicap (1400m) on Sunday (13 April) decided to change tack.

“When I saw the race on Sunday wasn’t a capacity field and Fast Network wasn’t running, I thought that rather than trialling him against Voyage Bubble over a mile for no money on Tuesday, we would run in the 1400m for three million dollars on Sunday,” Hayes said.

A strong-finishing sixth in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) behind My Wish, Rubylot claimed the Hong Kong Classic Cup before starting favourite and finishing fifth to Cap Ferrat in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 23 March.

Assigned 119lb on Sunday, Rubylot will be ridden by Karis Teetan when he takes on Beauty Joy (135lb), Invincible Sage (127lb), Patch Of Theta (127lb), Mugen (126lb), Taj Dragon (122lb), Drombeg Banner (115lb), Mr Ascendency (115lb) and Divano (115lb).

“He (Rubylot) has got a great record at 1400m, he needs a hard hit-out and I didn’t want to go five weeks between runs to 2000m,” Hayes said.

“I looked at the weather map for this weekend and there’s the chance of rain and he is very good in the wet. So, with a light weight and possibly in the wet, we’ll ride him from the back and just let him charge home and it wouldn’t surprise me if he won.”

Three of Rubylot’s six wins have come at 1400m and, at his only attempt on yielding ground at the distance, the gelding carried 135lb in Class 4 and won by three and three-quarter lengths at Sha Tin on 28 April.

Pierre Ng will saddle three runners in Sunday’s feature – Mugen, Taj Dragon and Drombeg Banner – and hopes all can contend strongly.

To be ridden by Luke Ferraris, Mugen searches for his first win this preparation.

“Mugen has been racing well the last two runs and his form is coming back. Luckily, he doesn’t carry the top weight so he will be competitive this run,” Ng said.

Seven-time Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton pairs with Taj Dragon, a six-time course and distance victor, after impressing Ng in a 1200m Sha Tin trial win on 3 April, when he downed Beauty Waves and Hong Lok Golf.

“Taj Dragon trialled well for Zac the other day. He looks like he’s coming back in form as well and hopefully he can run better,” Ng said.

Drombeg Banner will start from barrier four under Andrea Atzeni, seeking to build on his four course and distance victories.

“Drombeg Banner will have the advantage of the light weight. He’s very consistent at 1400m, so that’s why we have aimed him at this race,” Ng said.

David Hall has given apprentice Britney Wong the opportunity to partner Invincible Sage, winner of last season’s G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m).

Able to claim 10lb, Wong has posted 12 wins and 10 minor placings from 150 rides in her first season of racing riding in Hong Kong.

Invincible Sage is entered to defend his crown in the HK$22 million Chairman’s Sprint Prize this month when he is slated to face fellow Hong Kong Group 1 winners Ka Ying Rising, Lucky Sweynesse and Victor The Winner as well as Japanese quartet Satono Reve, Lugal, Danon McKinley and A Shin Fencer.

Sha Tin’s 11-race card this Sunday (13 April) starts with the Racing For Charity Plate (1000m) for Griffins at 12.30pm.