Hayes' Don't Know When shapes encouragingly for first-up tilt

It will be business as usual for the champion duo of trainer David Hayes and jockey Basil Marcus when racing gets under way for the final season of the 20th century at Sha Tin a week tomorrow.

The Australian training ace and his evergreen South African stable jockey have been putting plenty through their paces in the past two weeks and there was a glimpse of an interesting early runner at yesterday's four Sha Tin dirt trials.

Don't Know When is raced by equally evergreen radio personality 'Uncle' Ray Cordeiro who had indifferent luck with his first purchase, We Know When.

Don't Know When does look capable of more than paying his way and was arguably the most interesting triallist of the morning.

Marcus had no intention of knocking the youngster about and he went to the line under a big hold to finish third, having looked most impressive in the process.

Not that the winner of the trial is any slouch - and look to him in early exchanges. Last season's smart juvenile Indian Road made all in the 1,150-metre dash under Freddie Sanchez for Patrick Biancone and this one is ready to make his presence felt.