Once the Hong Kong Sprint is run and if all probabilities come to fruition that Ka Ying Rising makes a mess of the opposition, David Hayes will turn from the hunted to the hunter in the Hong Kong Cup.
Like Ka Ying Rising, Romantic Warrior looks to have the 2000-metre Group 1 feature all wrapped up – all being well – but Hayes is happy to let Straight Arron show his best even if it means running for minor money.
“We’re just going to follow Romantic Warrior and hope he has a bad day,” Hayes said.
“Romantic Warrior is a superstar but it is a small field with seven runners and sometimes those races become upsets.”
Straight Arron finished fourth in the Group 2 Jockey Club Cup (2000m) though more than five-lengths off Romantic Warrior, so there is ground to make up.
Hayes is realistic.
“We are hoping to give him a smooth run from barrier one and I am hoping he can run a place. A season ago he was the unlucky runner behind Romantic Warrior. Romantic Warrior had the tough run and he had the cosy run.”
Craig Williams jets into Hong Kong on Sunday morning to take the ride.
Hayes also has Tomodachi Kokoroe in the Sprint and while he does not expect this longshot to match it with Ka Ying Rising, he also believes that the horse has the form to be in the placings.
