Trainer David Hayes determined to go out on top with Victorian autumn before Hong Kong post

Trainer David Hayes remains on course to relocate to Hong Kong in the middle of next year, but in the meantime his focus is firmly on the Victorian autumn.

While David Hayes is slowly assembling his Hong Kong stable ahead of return to international racing's most lucrative racing jurisdiction, his focus remains firmly on Victoria's autumn riches.

The return of stable stars Constantinople, Cape Of Good Hope, Harlem and So Si Bon has Lindsay Park’s senior trainer excited about a departing tilt.

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Hayes will relocate in July to Hong Kong, where he was twice champion trainer and a permanent top-four presence from 1996-2005.

And, if the early signs are anything to go by, Hayes’ can expect to slot seamlessly back into Hong Kong racing.

“The response has been really good,” Hayes said after a recent visit to Hong Kong.

“I ran into a lot of my old clients and they’ve either got horses for me or want to buy horses for me.

“A lot of people have approached me to train their horses.

“I’m hopeful there are a couple of nice horses that will come my way at the end of the season but they (owners) don’t like to talk about which horse or when until the last minute.”

Hayes will replace fellow Australian John Moore, who retires at the end of the current Hong Kong season.

Trainer David Hayes wants to leave his mark on the Victorian autumn carnival.

Determined to leave his training partnership with son Ben Hayes and nephew Tom Dabernig in the best possible shape, Hayes is juggling present and future objectives.

“I’ve been granted 70 horses and I’ve started to slowly assemble staff in Hong Kong,” he said.

“I won’t go back there until after Easter and I’ll know then where my stable will be at that stage.

I’ll be doing a bit of commuting in June and July between Australia and Hong Kong.

“I have to finish in Australia before I start in Hong Kong.

“The plan is to finish here in n July.”

Hayes will have access to the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s world-class Conghua facility on mainland China.

“I’ll have 15 boxes in Conghua,” he said.

“If I’m bringing any new recruits, I’ll bring them in through Conghua – it’s like Flemington with 100 horses.

“I want to get to know China a little bit.

“One of the things that attracted me back to Hong Kong was the whole China thing.

“But I’ve got the autumn in mind here first. I’ve got a bit autumn to come.”

Hayes is plotting a sprint campaign with Caulfield Stakes winner Cape Of Good Hope, while the Australian Cup is likely to be Constantinople’s main autumn objective.

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Lys Gracieux, ridden by Damian Lane, takes out the Cox Plate. Picture Jay Town

LANE’S LAST LYS HURRAH

Damian Lane will be given the chance to farewell Lys Gracieux in style when he partners the Cox Plate winner in Sunday’s 2500mGroup 1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama, the mare’s final race.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” Lane said.

“Obviously she’s a quality mare. It’s going to be a tough race now that Almond Eye is going there, but I’m really lookingforward to it.”

Almond Eye had been scheduled to go to the Hong Kong Cup earlier this month, but those plans were scuttled when she sufferedan infection.

In June, Lane rode Lys Gracieux to victory in the 2200m Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin, a success that paved the way for theCox Plate triumph.

Lane has been granted a one-day licence to ride on ­Sunday.

“It’s a great result ­because I wasn’t entitled for the licence,” he said.

“It’s a special licence they’ve granted me just because of my association with her. I was very lucky to get the opportunity.

“My expectation is that she will run well because she is such a class horse and she’s so honest, but it’s going to be a verycompetitive race.

“It’s probably the best race that Japan has seen all year. You’ve got the Japan Cup winner (Suave Richard), Almond Eye, Kiseki. Basically nearly every one of their best horses.’’

Lane with the Cox Plate trophy. Picture: AAP

MONDAY RACEBOOK

ENTITLED TO BE CONCEITED

Damian Lane emerged as an invaluable asset for Japanese stables during the spring carnival, convincing Mer De Glace’s connections to target the Caulfield Cup.

Lane’s prescience delivered Group 1 success.

The West Australian is convinced Conceited will be better as a three-year-old despite the colt’s obvious precociousness.

Lane may well be correct and Flemington’s sectionals on Saturday underscored the quality of the youngster’s victory with the two-year-old scorching through the final 200m in 11.51 secs – the fastest of the meeting.

TURNOVER KEY TO TWILIGHTS

Turnover figures from Saturday’s Flemington fixture will be pivotal in the decision to persist or abandon the twilight experiment.

The Victorian TAB held close to $7 million over nine races, with a steady increase throughout the program.

The two-year-old opener attracted just under $260,000 in trade, while the closing event saw more than $715,000 invested.

With three more twilight meetings scheduled for Flemington, Racing Victoria and the Victoria Racing Club will analyse figures as part of planned reviews.

Initial reaction from trainers is lukewarm, to say the least.

Jason Warren Racing tweeted: “For 2 long racing has operated on a "suck it up"approach to its key participants.

“Turnover is king but at some point balance & measures have to be applied.

“Finishing at 10.00pm on a Friday means getting home at 1.00am for strappers. It'll take an accident to see change take place.”

BIG BLUE’S UK START DELAYED

Star Australian hurdler Big Blue’s British campaign was delayed on Saturday when a slight respiratory issue forced his scratching from the Group International Hurdle at Cheltenham.

“He just had dirty scope, nothing major but you need to be spot on heading into those races,” co-trainer David Eustace said.

“He’ll go to either the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton or a similar race in Ireland.

“At this stage, the aim is to have him ready for the Cheltenham Festival (in March).

“The Christmas Hurdle is a Grade One but you are going to see where he measures up and where we’re at.”

THE WEEK AHEAD

Racing Victoria’s heat policy is certain to be enacted this week with temperatures predicted to hover above 30C before spiking over 40C on Friday.

RV’s heat rules are applied to meeting where the forecast temperature is 30c and above.

With no races today, Tuesday’s Mornington meeting is predicted to be held in a maximum temperature of 32C.

Caulfield (36C) and Bairnsdale (32C) will also be subject to the policy, which allows for horses to be in the mounting yard for a shorter period with a swathe of well-being measures, such as iced water around the course, and earlier race starts — if required.

Thursday’s Warrnambool fixture (28C) is not expected to be affected, but conditions worsen significantly on Friday.

The mercury is set to hit 41C at both Yarra Valley and The Valley (night meeting) ahead of a cooler change.

Meeting can be abandoned in extreme heat, just as Ascot’s Saturday’s program was as temperatures soared to 41C.

Originally published as Trainer David Hayes determined to go out on top with Victorian autumn before Hong Kong post