David Hayes allowed himself a rare smile of quiet pride this week as he gave Tomodachi Kokoroe an affectionate pat after trackwork at Sha Tin. The gelding, once a slow-burning project, now heads into the BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint as one of Hong Kong’s most compelling success stories of the season. Even the stable staff paused to admire him, sensing how far he has come.
Tomodachi Kokoroe has surged from Class 2 hopeful to Group 2 contender with an unbeaten run of three this term, and Hayes believes the seven-year-old has earned every stride of his remarkable rise. The trainer saddles both Tomodachi Kokoroe and the reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year, Ka Ying Rising, on Sunday (23 November), though even he admits he did not foresee this scenario.
“We’ll see him against the champ. I knew I’d have the leading sprinter, but Tomodachi Kokoroe, well, it’s incredible,” Hayes said. “It took him eight starts to win in Class 4, and now he’s inside the top three sprinters in Hong Kong. He’s a revelation – a fantastic horse.”
Tomodachi Kokoroe began the season with a sharp win in Class 2 before rolling straight into momentum few expected. His victory in last month’s G2 Premier Bowl Handicap was the turning point, stopping the clock in 1m 07.39s – the second-fastest 1200m time recorded in Hong Kong, behind only Ka Ying Rising’s benchmark of 1m 07.20s.
“He’s always shown he’s a good horse,” Hayes continued, “but he just needed time to adjust here. We’re training him the same, but the one-eyed blinker has made a massive difference.”
Hayes added the single-cowl blinker four starts ago, and Tomodachi Kokoroe has not looked back. Raced by the Tak Sum Syndicate, his rating has jumped from 84 to 110 as his transformation continues.
The stable’s attention is also on Straight Arron, who contests the G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) under Vincent Ho. The gelding, a dual Group 2 winner, has returned to Hayes’ care after an earlier stint at the yard.
“He always had the potential to be a top middle-distance horse,” Hayes said. “I thought his first-up run was terrific; he finished strongly.”
Straight Arron resumed with a fourth in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) and has since trialled well. His next assignment will determine whether he heads towards the Hong Kong Cup (2000m) or Hong Kong Vase (2400m) in December.
Harry Bentley renews his association with Tomodachi Kokoroe on Sunday and will partner Romantic Son at Happy Valley on Wednesday.
“I’m really looking forward to riding him again,” Bentley said of Tomodachi Kokoroe. “It’s a tough ask against Ka Ying Rising, but he’s in very good order.”
Romantic Son (123lb) lines up from a favourable gate in the Class 3 Cotton Handicap (1200m), something Bentley believes can bring out the best in him.
“He’s finally drawn a nice barrier and comes in with good form. He’s been finishing off well, and with a smooth run he should be competitive.”
Bentley’s evening finishes with Flying Fortress (132lb) for Cody Mo in the Class 3 Causeway Bay Handicap (1650m).
“The 1650 suits him and he handles the Valley well. There’s more improvement in him too,” he said.
Happy Valley’s Wednesday meeting begins at 6.40pm with the second section of the Class 4 So Kon Po Handicap (1200m).
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to racebuzz.
;
