David Hayes looking to Melbourne Cup challenge ahead of return to Hong Kong

Australian Hall of Fame trainer David Hayes is hoping history repeats itself as he prepares to join the Hong Kong training roster for a second time when local legend John Moore retires next summer.

Rumours that Hayes could be leaving Australia have circulated for some while but his latest move was only confirmed after a recent approach from the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

“I only ever left Hong Kong because of the tragic situation of my brother dying and my father passing away in the matter of 18 months,” he said.

“I always made my intentions clear that I would like to come back at some point and I was thrilled to get a call a couple of months ago.

Opportunity only goes past you occasionally and it probably took me 15 seconds to say yes.”

Hayes was in his early thirties and just about to announce that he was leaving his famous Lindsay Park base to train in Hong Kong when former Geoff Wragg galloper Jeune won the Melbourne Cup for him in 1994.

Big races victories continued to flow during a subsequent ten-year stint in HK which yielded two champion trainer titles and, after revealing that he will return to train at Sha Tin for the 2020-21 season, the now 56-year-old handler is aiming for the race that stops a nation again with a powerful team involving several high-profile European imports.

Rostropovich up for the Cup again

Hayes has last year’s Ebor winner Muntahaa as a possible for the Flemington showpiece, while recent recruit Constantinople is among the ante-post favourites after the weights were published on Tuesday.

However, last year’s Irish Derby runner-up Rostropovich is guaranteed a run having been allotted 55kg and Hayes feels the son of Frankel is one to watch as he prepares to build on last year’s gallant staying-on Cup fifth for Aidan O’Brien.

“Constantinople is a lovely horse who joined us after finishing second in the Voltigeur for Aidan at York,” said Hayes. “He’s still green but could be a really nice Cup horse for next year,” he said.

Rostropovich recorded his best Racing Post rating of 115 when pipped by Latrobe in last year’s Irish Derby but wasn’t far below that form at Flemington or when seventh in the Hong Kong Vase on his final start last December.

Rostropovich: a Cup prospect for David HayesCredit: Getty Images

The four-year-old was forced to spend six months in quarantine in New Zealand before joining the Hayes team but has been gelded during his lengthy break and reappears over a mile in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington this weekend.

“Don’t worry if you see Rostropovich racing with his tongue to one side. That’s just the way he is but, jeez, he’s been going real well,” added Hayes.

“My dream before I leave Australia would be to win the Melbourne Cup – and I’ve just got a feeling that I’ll be competitive this year.”

Green for go on opening night at the Valley

Two meetings into the Hong Kong season and the jockeys’ table has a familiar look, with Zac Purton and Joao Moreira ahead of the chasing pack on four and three winners respectively.

The big two promise to have a major say when racing returns to Happy Valley for the first time since July this Wednesday and the Big Wave Bay Handicap features an intriguing rematch between two old rivals who fought out a thrilling finish over course and distance in June.

Dr Geoff, one of the latest in a fairly lengthy line of HK imports from the Ger Lyons academy, got the better of a good battle with Green Luck that night as the pair drew clear of a smart Class 2 field and has Purton in the plate.

However, Green Luck would have gone very close indeed that night but for being carried left by the winner close home.

The Caspar Fownes-trained gelding has a pull in the weights here. Add in the presence of Moreira for the first time and the likelihood of a true pace to run at and Green Luck appears to have plenty in his favour.

Shinn looking to end his frustration on Valley debut

Hitting the ground running is seldom straightforward for new jockeys in Hong Kong and this season’s two high-profile imports are proving no exception.

Dual South African champion Lyle Hewitson will miss the next four meetings after his appeal against a ban sustained on home soil in April came to nothing.

Hong Kong: the racing season is under wayCredit: Vince Caligiurii (Getty Images)

Star Aussie rider Blake Shinn will miss three meetings starting on September 18 after being found guilty of “a high degree of carelessness” aboard Flying Noble in Sunday’s third race.

Shinn has finished second on five of his 13 rides but has six chances to get off the mark at the Valley on Wednesday – including on the aptly named Frustrated in the finale.

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