After enduring a tougher than expected restart to his Hong Kong training career thanks to a batch of young and immature horses, David Hayes says he is excited to finally go to the races with a galloper that is rock-hard fit.
The Australian Hall of Fame handler recently received Happy Valley specialist Naboo Star off Caspar Fownes, bolstering his stable with some much-needed race experience.
After stacking his stable full of unraced talent at the start of the season Hayes has made no secret of the time it has taken his young horses to adapt to Hong Kong’s tough climate, so he was understandably thrilled to be on the receiving end of a ready-to-run galloper.
“It is just nice to have a seasoned one instead of having all these young horses who got here this season and are not eating right yet,” he said. “He is a bit tougher than the ones I have.”
While he has all but given up on a bumper 2020-21 season, Hayes is bullish about the long-term future as his young horses begin to show they could be turning a corner.
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He will unveil two more debutants on Wednesday night in Cosmo Classic and Most Welcome as he looks to further educate his batch of up-and-comers.
“They are just taking time, the odd one is coping and doing really well,” he said. “I am pretty confident they will be good next season but right now they are taking a bit longer than I thought to be honest.
“Most young horses take time to adjust – not just in my stable, but in anyone’s stable – with their appetite.
“If they have a good appetite, you can work them stronger and they work better. If you give a horse a trial and he doesn’t eat, you can’t do much with them for a while.
“I have got quite a few where their appetites aren’t where I want them. Once they adjust and their appetites improve, they improve too.
“That’s not just my stable, that’s everyone's – there is the odd one that thrives straight away.”
Stepping out for the first time under Hayes on Wednesday night in the Class Three Canal Handicap (1,650m), Naboo Star is one of the few horses he can bank on showing up day in, day out with 19 starts already under his belt.
“All the ones that eat well are the ones that have been here a few seasons, I only have about seven of them,” he said. “He is a competitive horse and I was happy with his trial, through the winning post he looked quite nice.
“I know he has good Happy Valley form – he is a winner there – so it is possible on Wednesday.”
Despite his city track expertise, Naboo Star will clash with the well-performed Savaquin along with the likes of Sunny Star and Gift Of Lifeline.
Savaquin has reeled off back-to-back wins at Happy Valley and would be a possible Derby contender should he notch up another victory.
With jockey Joao Moreira suspended, Zac Purton again takes the ride where he will look to make some imprint on his 30-win deficit to the Brazilian.
