David Hayes admits a late-season charge at the trainers’ title is a long shot, but the champion handler hasn’t given up all hope after reducing John Size’s lead to six wins with a treble at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Hayes reached a half-century of winners for the season after Oriental Smoke, Solid Shalaa and World Hero scored to potentially add some spice to the premiership battle.

“It is a long shot but there is a glimmer of hope,” said Hayes, who won Hong Kong trainers’ championships in 1997-98 and 1998-99.

“I’ve got a lot of young horses that are going to start running that are trialling well, but basically I have to keep going and John has to stop winning. Every time John trains a winner, it’s hard, but it’s worth giving it a go.

“I’d definitely love to run second and if John doesn’t train a winner or two in the next few weeks and I get a couple, it will get interesting. It’s a big margin, but you can dream.”

Hayes credited support from owners for his superb campaign, which has been headlined by superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising’s record-equalling eight wins from as many starts.

“I had a very strong team of young horses but they kept leaving my stable. I lost 40 horses in 18 months and that’s almost career-destroying,” Hayes said of his stable departures two seasons ago.

“Luckily we’ve recovered and we’re not losing horses now. That’s the only difference that I’ve seen – that owners I have now are staying, not moving, and some of the big ones are coming back.”

Oriental Smoke kick-started Hayes’ three-timer with his first victory since March last year when Zac Purton booted him home in the Class Four Members’ Care@HKJC Handicap (1,800m).

After a perfect trip in the box seat, the seven-year-old cruised to the lead early in the straight and was eased down late by Purton to cling on by a neck from the fast-finishing Double Win.

Solid Shalaa handled the rise to Class Three to make it back-to-back victories with a barnstorming display under Ellis Wong Chi-wang in The Members Cup (1,200m) on dirt.

Taken back to third last after a slow start, Solid Shalaa saved ground along the inside rail in the straight and gunned down tearaway leader Packing Bole to score by a neck.

The five-year-old has made a strong return from multiple leg injuries with a close second and two wins from three starts this term.

“His form all season really has been terrific and he’s an elite dirt horse, I think,” Hayes said.

“He loves this track, loves this distance and Wong rides the horse really well. I have to say it was a great ride.

“I like supporting the younger riders and when they get confident, their seven and 10lbs [claim] is a huge help. At the moment, he’s confident on my horses and I’m very happy to use him.”

Brown-lamped from $21 to $7.2 late in betting, World Hero landed a plunge when making all under Alexis Badel in the Class Four Sha Tin Clubhouse Handicap (1,400m).