David Hayes emerged from a nightmare few days in Australia with the poignant success of China Win in his family colours in the Class Four Hebe Haven Handicap (1,800m).

Hayes was home in Australia earlier this week battling the bushfires in Euroa, Victoria, where his family’s Lindsay Park Stables are located, and he had only returned to Hong Kong early on Sunday.

“We’ve had a really bad time with the fires – I haven’t slept for two and a half days. I got back at 7am this morning after fighting the fires back home,” said Hayes.

“I left my property last night when the fire had passed, but we lost 90 per cent of our infrastructure. It was pretty horrific, I was looking after 320 horses with my sons and my wife – we saved all of them bar seven.”

After such a devastating few days, a winner in his family’s colours was a much-needed piece of positive news for Hayes, with China Win delivering on his seventh career start despite drawing barrier 14.

It was an astute ride by Zac Purton, who managed to get into a decent position towards the rear of the field and made his move at the perfect time to overhaul the leaders, before holding off the late challenge of Audacious Pursuit.

The Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) will now be the aim for the Super Seth galloper, who was bought by Hayes in 2023.

“Given the form of the horse, I was sure he was ready to win, but when he got that barrier it was a bit of a worry,” said Hayes. “They went fast and Zac was able to let him relax and he charged home without the blinkers and won like he’s going to keep on winning.

“We needed to work on his mental attitude and I think he really responded – I was encouraged to see how fast the time was and how easy he won. It’s going to be hard but we’re going to try and qualify him for the Derby – that’s the idea.”

Money Catcher rolls back the years

Three years to the day since his last victory, Money Catcher turned back the clock to win the Class Three Pak Sha O Handicap (1,800m).

That last win came at Happy Valley in a Group Three contest when he was rated 110, and two runs later he was third behind Golden Sixty and Romantic Warrior in a special running of the Group One Hong Kong Gold Cup (2,000m).

Rated just 62 heading into Sunday’s race, those who took the chance on the eight-year-old would have been forgiven for throwing away their slips when he broke slowly and settled with just two behind him under Derek Leung Ka-chun.

In a race that was run at an honest clip, the pair surged down the straight to hit the front and fend off a late charge from Stunning Peach, much to the delight of his patient trainer and owners.

“It was worth the wait. When he came to Hong Kong, he kept placing and it was difficult to win. He won two races and after that, he was always close but did start to run some bad races and it allowed a drop down to Class Three,” said Frankie Lor Fu-chuen.

“The last few times he has been a little bit better and I told Derek that if he jumped a little bit better, he could go forward, but he jumped a bit slow.

“The pace was quick, so he could come from behind and win for his patient owner. I’m happy because he’s an eight-year-old who can still win and it’s great for the owner.”

Emperor rules under Ferraris

Luke Ferraris produced a ride of the season contender when managing to lift home $68.5 roughie Young Emperor in the Class Three Hung Mui Kuk Handicap (1,200m).

It was a remarkable performance from the Irish import, who was last on straightening and had a wall of horses to pass.

Ferraris chose to take the daring route and cut back towards the fence on David Eustace’s charge, scraping the paint to pass rivals one by one before being switched around eventual second Chill Buddy’s heels and getting up by a short head.

It was the ride of a man not short of confidence, with the South African moving to 20 winners for the campaign, while Eustace climbed up to 13 for the season.