Hayes hopeful, but realistic about Hong Kong trainers’ championship bid

Staff Writer

Horse Racing

May 14, 2026

40 Views

The Hong Kong racing season has moved into its final quarter, and there’s plenty on the line between now and the concluding meeting on July 15, with nothing currently commanding more attention than the mouthwatering battle for the trainers’ championship.

One man who has been there and done it is David Hayes, securing back-to-back titles in 1997/98 and 1998/99, and the 63-year-old says he would “dearly love” to mark his second Hong Kong racing stint with a third premiership.

“I would love to win again,” said Hayes, who has landed 48 winners so far this term.

“I ran second last year and fifth the year before. I’m entrenched in the top five, so I think I will be right up there and, whether it is this year, next year or the year after, I would dearly love to win a premiership before I finish up.”

Hayes sits fourth on the champion trainers table with 17 of the season’s 88 meetings remaining, six adrift of the leading Danny Shum on 54 successes.

Hayes also has Mark Newnham (52 wins) and Caspar Fownes (51 wins) in his sights, while Francis Lui(47) and John Size (45) are on his hammer.

“It’s very open at the moment. That might change if someone gets a run on, but it’s very even and every week it’s someone’s turn and they go up the ladder,” Hayes said. 

“For me, it all depends on how my young horses come up. I’m relying on them late in the season to hopefully carry me through, but my concern is I’ve got a little bit of a tail. There’s quite a number that I don’t think can win. 

“I suppose everyone has those but I look at mine more than anyone else’s. That’s what worries me a little bit, and you don’t want to be forcing your young horses – if they come on naturally, I’m a chance.”

While Hayes is yet to register a win in May, he’s coming off one of his better months of the season with eight wins in April, and he’s hopeful some of his unraced gallopers can take the baton during the final weeks of the season, while also pointing to Turin Champions as a galloper capable of fuelling his title push.

“I do like Turin Champions, I think he is going to be a very nice stayer towards the back end of the season,” said Hayes of the three-year-old, who has won once and finished second twice from eight starts and was fourth over a mile at Sha Tin recently.

“There are some who are about to step out trialling in the next week or so, so fingers crossed. You need a couple that can put two or three (wins) together. Whether I have got them or not, I will find out very soon.”

Hayes has seven runners at Sha Tin this Sunday, including last-start third-place finisher Bustling City on an eight-day back-up.

Hong Kong Trainers’ Ranking (Top 6) – As of 14 May, 2026