David Hayes will aim Rubylot at the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) in January after the talented gelding claimed the Class 3 Yan Chai Trophy Handicap (1200m) with a devastating sprint at Sha Tin on Saturday.
Ridden by Brenton Avdulla in place of Hugh Bowman, who was indisposed, Rubylot posted his fourth win from 13 starts and is, according to Hayes, the most improved horse in the dual Hong Kong champion trainer’s stable.
Sixth on the home turn, Rubylot (132lb) accelerated brilliantly over the final 400m, clocking 21.81s, to overhaul Bottomuptogether (135lb) to emphatically stamp his Four-Year-Old Classic Series credentials.
“He’s in the Classic Series. He’s my number one miler, I reckon,” Hayes said. “I thought the horse was good and it’s so nice to see it happen. He’s definitely my most improved horse.
“That was big and he’ll only be better over 1400m and a mile. He’s quite exciting, I think. I was a little bit scared it could be too short and it nearly was, but he’s run down a very good horse (Bottomuptogether).”
Rubylot was one of four emerging gallopers to forge into Four-Year-Old Classic Series reckoning.
Harold Win, winner of the first section of the Class 4 Sha Tsui Handicap (1200m) under Andrea Atzeni, also emerged as a potential Four-Year-Old Classic Series galloper for reigning champion Francis Lui before Cody Mo’s Pray For Mir and Pierre Ng’s Prestige Always also charged into the Hong Kong Classic Mile contention.
Justify gelding Pray For Mir won two races when he raced as Javaja for Stuart Kendrick at the Sunshine Coast in Australia last year before transferring to Mo’s stable, while Starspangledbanner gelding Prestige Always won a race in Ireland when he raced as Mythology for Joseph O’Brien.
Both earned PP Bonuses of HK$1.5 million.
Ng and Zac Purton secured trainer and jockey honours, respectively, after Prestige Always clung on as Britney Wong, Ben Thompson, Alfred Chan and Jimmy Ting all posted milestone wins at Sha Tin.
Wong, who scored on Jolly Companion for Manfred Man, celebrated her first win on Sha Tin’s All Weather Track and her second overall in Hong Kong.
“We knew the pace was going to be very fast and we decided to be very positive out of the gate, even if it took 400 metres, and we eventually got to the front nice,” Wong said.
“I’ve been working very closely with Felix (Coetzee) to improve how I jump and, with the 10lb claim and drawing barrier four today and carrying only 109lb, we were carrying a lot less than the other horses, which was a big advantage.
“He travelled happy and turning into the straight, he gave me a big kick and he just kept going and it was nice to get a win for Manfred.”
Australian Ben Thompson notched his first winner of the campaign when he substituted for Bowman on Daily Trophy for Caspar Fownes.
“Hugh’s misfortune has been my fortune, so right place, right time,” Thompson said. “I’m very thankful to Caspar Fownes’ connections for giving me the ride on him today.
“Obviously, we have had half a dozen meetings and it’s a place that moves very quickly and it was nice to get on the right horse today, so may the winners keep coming.”
Fownes said: “It’s nice for Ben to get a win there. He did a good job – rode the horse perfectly. I just wanted to prove that if you give jockeys some decent rides, they can prove themselves and their worth. He’s given the horse a perfect ride. In Hong Kong, if you’re riding horses that are not in form, it’s very hard to prove your ability.
“This is a horse who has always run well on the dirt. When I looked at the race, there were quite a few jockeys available, and I said, ‘you know what, I’ll give Ben a chance’. I’m so happy he got the result and hopefully now people can give him some support and he can show his ability.”
Alfred Chan continued the breakthrough theme with his victory on Danny Shum-trained Super Legends.
“I haven’t ridden a winner at Sha Tin on grass for maybe two years and I’m really thankful to Danny – I work for him every morning, seven days a week and finally I got something in return, which is perfect,” Chan, 30 said. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity.”
Jimmy Ting notched his maiden victory for the campaign when Harry Bentley piloted Deal Completed to success.
Matthew Poon continued his excellent start to the season with his sixth win for the term with success atop Michael Chang-trained Casa Legend before Purton scored on Ng-trained Fighting Machine.
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