David Hayes will be hoping a change in fortune can revive his trainers’ championship bid when he takes nine runners to Sunday’s (8 March) 11-race Sha Tin meeting.

The Australian Racing Hall of Famer had been the early pace-setter this season, but his strike rate has taken a hit amid a slew of near-misses since the start of February, and he now finds himself third in the trainers’ title race on 36 wins and 28 seconds behind Mark Newnham (36 wins, 32 seconds) and leader Caspar Fownes on 39 wins.

During a hot January spell, the two-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer (1997/98 & 1998/99) was operating at a 13.2% strike rate after enjoying 10 winners from his 76 runners. By comparison, from 76 runners since the beginning of February, Hayes’ yard is operating at a more modest 5.3% strike rate with just four winners.

The stable has had 14 top-three finishers since the beginning of February, but fewer of those have been converted into winners, and Hayes will hope the remainder of March can bring better luck.

Hayes will saddle two live chances in the Class 2 Devon Handicap (1800m) in the hope that 2024/25 DBS x Manulife Million Challenge winner Soleil Fighter (131lb) can build on an impressive all-the-way win at Happy Valley last time out, and progressive four-year-old Fortune Boy (115lb) can impress from the foot of the weights on his Class 2 debut.

“It was a good win; he dictated and was able to hang on,” Hayes said of Soleil Fighter’s recent Happy Valley victory, the gelding’s first in almost a year. “He’s been a wonderful horse. He’s only won the one this year, but he’s earned money in all of his (10) starts – around HK$5 million, so he’s a horse a lot of owners would love.”

Hayes, who is comfortably the leading prize-money earner in the training ranks this term with more than HK$89.54 million banked, said he felt Fortune Boy had been unlucky in some of his nine runs this term, but had high hopes for the New Zealand-bred gelding.

“He’s been blocked badly and not got runs at different times,” Hayes said. “The reason I’m running him is, it’s his last chance to maybe qualify for the (BMW Hong Kong) Derby. And I do think he’s one of the horses that can run 2000 metres, and would run a good race in the Derby if he managed to bully his way in.

“I really feel that if he can beat this sort of field – out of the handicap – he warrants a place in the Derby,” he added.

The highlight of the day is the Class 1 Essex Handicap (1200m), which features a star-studded sprinting cast. Among the leading chances is Dennis Yip’s improving five-year-old Fast Network (135lb), who steps back to Class 1 after several months competing at Group level, but will do so with the biggest impost.

Runaway jockeys’ championship leader Zac Purton will be back on board Fast Network for the first time since September, and is a big admirer of the Wrote gelding.

“He’s always been a big, strong horse,” Purton said. “He didn’t need to develop any more in that regard. And he came here and showed straight away that he had some ability. It’s just a matter of – like all horses in Hong Kong – after a period of time, they seem to settle into the place and find their home. He’s always been a lovely horse.”

Purton rode Fast Network during his introductory period in the city, guiding him to three wins from four rides.

“He’s been racing against the big boys; it’s a big step back in class for him,” Purton added. “As long as he draws reasonably well, he’d have a chance. He’s a horse that you can’t be too positive on him. He likes to find his feet a little bit. But he’s done a good job.”

Sunday’s (8 March) 11-race fixture at Sha Tin starts at 12.30pm with the Class 4 Suffolk Handicap (1000m).