As the 2024/25 Hong Kong racing season approaches its finale, David Hayes is not giving up on his dream of clinching a third trainers’ championship. Despite trailing John Size by six victories with only two race meetings left, Hayes is determined to fight until the end. This Sunday at Sha Tin (13 July), he will field nine runners across the program, hoping for a bold performance that might just keep his title aspirations alive.
The Australian trainer has made some progress in recent weeks, narrowing what was once an eight-win margin with a solid run of form. Still, he admits the odds are long, especially considering Size has 12 entries across ten races at the same meeting. For Hayes, everything has to align—he needs a stellar day while Size must falter. It’s a scenario that’s hard to imagine, but not entirely impossible, as history has shown in Hong Kong racing.
Last year’s unforgettable finale, where Francis Lui stormed from behind to steal the championship by a single win in the final race, remains fresh in everyone’s memory. Hayes, always an optimist, draws inspiration from that turnaround. He knows that late-season surprises are rare, but not unheard of.
This weekend’s highlight is the HK$4,075,000 Class 1 The Hong Kong Racehorse Owners Association Trophy Handicap (1600m). The field includes some top-class names with John Size sending out three strong contenders: Beauty Eternal, Bundle Award, and Young Champion. Hayes counters with Soleil Fighter, ridden by Ben Thompson. It’s a clash that could very well influence the final standings.
Also returning to action is Massive Sovereign, now under the guidance of David Eustace. The 2024 BMW Hong Kong Derby winner will have his first start since surgery and while he’s not at peak fitness, Eustace is confident the outing will serve as a valuable prep run before the season concludes.
Eustace, who has enjoyed a stellar debut campaign with 36 wins so far, will also rely on Mister Dapper, a horse in red-hot form, in the Class 3 Sight Winner Handicap (1600m). The gelding seeks his third consecutive victory under Karis Teetan and looks poised to deliver another strong performance.
Veteran trainer Benno Yung, preparing for his final appearance at Sha Tin before retirement, will send out eight horses. He remains hopeful for a memorable send-off, with several of his charges benefiting from favourable draws.
Sunday’s 11-race card begins at 4pm with the Class 5 Miraculous Handicap over 1400m. While the trainers’ title may be heavily tilted in Size’s favour, the Sha Tin crowd will be watching closely to see if Hayes can produce the kind of late flourish that turns longshots into legends.
