David Hayes will put Nervous Witness “on trial” for the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m) later this month in a hot Class Two Nurturing Talent Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Saturday.

Nervous Witness was one of 10 speedsters confirmed among the selected runners for the 1,200m feature on Champions Day, but Hayes admitted he will need to see a strong performance from his five-year-old if he is to throw him into his first Group One test on April 30.

“I thought he was trending nicely, but then he got that wet track on the dirt the other day, which I’ll forget he went around. He drew the outside, and unless you drew an inside barrier, you were buggered. He just didn’t like it,” Hayes said ahead of Nervous Witness’ run from gate three in a Class Two contest featuring the exciting Victor The Winner, as well as the likes of Trillion Win, Ima Single Man and Carroll Street.

“Victor The Winner looks very good, but Nervous Witness has got the right barrier and he’s back on turf. If he’s going to be a runner in the Group One, he’s going to have to figure in the finish with a win or going very close. He’s on trial for the 30th.”

Nervous Witness is the highest-rated horse in a Hayes stable that is lacking top-end talent after the departures of Super Wealthy, Straight Arron and Bon’s A Pearla among a constant flow of transfers.

“It’s disappointing. They’re promising young horses. Most horses are better in their second semester than their first in Hong Kong, and they’re just not getting the opportunity to get to their second semester when they’re acclimatised, so it’s very frustrating,” said Hayes, who has watched on as his sons, Ben and JD, have made hay in some of Australia’s biggest races in recent weeks.

“But I’m committed to Hong Kong. Hopefully, this flow of losing horses will settle down. I’ve lost 26 this season, which flattens you a bit.”

Hayes saddles nine runners at the 62nd meeting of the season, and while he will be most interested in what happens in the Class Two – in which he also sends around Oriental Smoke – he is looking forward to seeing what his runners can do in Saturday afternoon’s Class Five contests.

Inspiring City has drawn gate one for the Racing For Charity Handicap (1,400m) and Lyle Hewitson will ride him after his last-start eighth as favourite under Zac Purton, while Young Horizon jumps from gate six under Vincent Ho Chak-yiu in the Caring Community Handicap (1,400m).

“Inspiring City is only a three-year-old. Towards the end of the season, and next season, he’ll get closer to his best, so he’ll be winning races eventually. He’s got a good gate. He might even do it on the weekend,” Hayes said.

“Young Horizon has been knocking on the door. I think he’ll run pretty well.”