Hayes chases third straight winner as championship duel heats up

By Paul Ryding

Momentum is building for David Hayes in the trainers’ championship, and the Australian sends seven runners to Happy Valley on Wednesday (11 February) as the battle with Mark Newnham continues.

The two are separated by the slenderest of margins at the top of the standings with Newnham on 35 winners for the season, and last season’s runner-up Hayes on 34.

Hayes, a two-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer, has closed the gap on his compatriot in recent weeks, outscoring Newnham by 12 wins to nine since the turn of the year. He’ll be aiming for winners at a third consecutive meeting on Wednesday, and his best hope of doing so may lie in Bienvenue (127lb), who makes a welcome return in the first section of the Class 3 Sam Chuk Handicap (1200m).

The four-year-old is back on the track after more than three months out, having been found to have bled following a disappointing run on 5 November.

“He was a good, consistent horse at the start of the season,” said Hayes of the Star Turn gelding, who had recorded two wins and two seconds from five runs before his last run. “He’s had a really nice, slow build-up – a couple of trials. And his work after the trials was solid. So, we’re pleased to have Zac (Purton) on him, even though it’s a bit of an awkward gate.”

Hayes, an Australian Racing Hall of Famer, believes Bienvenue has plenty of room for improvement from his current rating of 68.

“I would have said at the start of the season, he’s similar to Romantic Son, and he’s mid-80s now. So, there’s a bit of room for him.”

Bienvenue’s biggest threat could be John Size-trained Amazing Kid (120lb), who steps into Class 3 company for the first time on the strength of three straight wins on the Happy Valley 1200m course.

Andrea Atzeni, who has been in the saddle for four of Size’s past seven winners during his recent resurgence, rides the Exceed And Excel gelding again. He’s confident that after not making the frame in seven outings before his winning streak, Amazing Kid can handle the step up in class.

“He’s obviously turned the corner. Once he got his head in front the first time, that seemed to do his confidence a lot of good,” the Italian said. “He seems like every time I’ve ridden him – and it’s a few times – he’s just kept improving. Hopefully, he can take another step forward with that weight in his favour.

“From Class 4 to Class 3, sometimes you don’t think it’s much, but it’s a big jump for a horse. The quality of the horses is different. But he’s done nothing wrong and he’s entitled to take his chance,” he added.

Following Wednesday night’s meeting, Jerry Chau flies out to Saudi Arabia, where he will partner Manfred Man’s Self Improvement in the G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint (1200m, dirt) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

The 25-year-old scored the biggest success of his career to date with the six-year-old in September when they scored a surprise victory in the G3 Korea Sprint (1200m, sand) in Seoul.

Chau believes the Deep Field gelding enjoyed experiencing new surroundings in South Korea, and that stands him in good stead for Saturday’s (14 February) contest in Riyadh.

“It was a great moment for me this season, and it was a big surprise,” Chau said. “I was very confident in the horse before the race, because he handled the trip very well. I galloped him, and he was very patient and didn’t feel like he was getting upset there. I think he really liked travelling to another racecourse.”

Wednesday’s (11 February) nine-race fixture at Happy Valley starts at 6.40pm with the Class 5 Ng Fong Handicap (1650m). Saudi Cup Day will be simulcast from King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Saturday (14 February) starting at 9.20pm (Hong Kong time).