A perfect draw in barrier one has added to David Hayes’ confidence in Tomodachi Kokoroe handling a rare rise in distance in Thursday’s Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin.

In the midst of a breakout campaign crowned by his Group Two Premier Bowl (1,200m) victory in October, the seven-year-old steps up beyond 1,200m for just the fourth time in Hong Kong.

He was beaten narrowly in second at the course and distance of Thursday’s race in 2024 before failing over 1,650m at Happy Valley and running eighth in last January’s Chinese Club Challenge Cup.

After completing a resurgent hat-trick in the Premier Bowl, Tomodachi Kokoroe ran seventh in the Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m) and sixth in the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m), both behind champion stablemate Ka Ying Rising.

“He’s just getting outsprinted behind the superstar,” Hayes said of Tomodachi Kokoroe, who notched one win over 1,400m in Australia when known as Bank Bank Bank.

“I think this will suit him better. He’s performed well here at this distance without winning. His form has been great this time in and barrier one is really good for him.”

Tomodachi Kokoroe returned this season with a pair of Class Two victories before clocking 1:07.39 – the third-fastest 1,200m ever recorded at Sha Tin – in his Premier Bowl triumph.

But with his rating soaring to 110, the son of Written Tycoon has been lumped with top weight of 135lb in the New Year’s Day feature. Harry Bentley will again take the ride.

Prolific Group One winner Lucky Sweynesse won with 135lb in 2023, but the handicap conditions have favoured horses down in the weights in recent years.

One of three contenders on the 115lb minimum on Thursday is the Hayes-trained Storm Rider, who is in good form this campaign with a Happy Valley win over the progressive Colourful King and a second from his four starts.

“He’s improved and I think he’ll get to a 100 rating,” Hayes said of the 86-rated galloper.

“I would have loved to run him in the 1,200m [Class Two on December 20], but he got balloted out of that one.”

Storm Rider, who won over 1,400m at Sha Tin in January last year, drew barrier nine and will be ridden by Karis Teetan.

The Chinese Club Challenge Cup also features the likes of Patch Of Theta, who won the race last January, the progressive Light Years Charm, Packing Hermod and impressive last-start winners Aeris Nova and Sky Trust.

Hayes will also have representation in Sunday’s Group Three Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1,000m), but he believes his runner Chateauneuf will be tested at the minimum trip.

“It’s probably a bit short for him, but the Class Two 1,200m races are hard to find and when you do find them, they’re hard to get in. So he’ll probably be better suited at the Valley over 1,200m,” Hayes said.

Chateauneuf won at Happy Valley last month before running a solid fifth to Colourful King up the Sha Tin straight last start.

Meanwhile, Hayes said the world’s best sprinter Ka Ying Rising continues to thrive in Conghua after notching his 16th straight victory in the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) earlier this month.

“I’m going up to work him tomorrow but it’s business as usual. He’ll be back in a couple weeks,” Hayes said.

Ka Ying Rising will bid to equal Silent Witness’ Hong Kong record of 17 consecutive wins when he steps out in the Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m) on January 25.