David Hayes hopes Rubylot is returning to his peak as he bids to upset a stellar field in Sunday’s (26 April) HK$30 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin.

Last season’s Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) winner has shown the ability to compete at the elite level, including when finishing second to Voyage Bubble in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) in May.

He showed further promise on his seasonal reappearance in the G3 Celebration Cup (1400m) in September when he stormed home to finish fifth to My Wish over an insufficient distance, but after two below-par runs, injury struck.

He returned to the track in March but Hayes believes his two subsequent runs in the Class 2 Golden Sixty Handicap (1400m) and G2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) were not representative of his true ability.

“I think his season is about to start,” he said. “The (G3) Queen Mother Memorial Cup (Handicap) and the Champions & Chater Cup are his main aims, and it’s funny to be in a HK$30 million lead-up race, but that’s the way it is.

“First up following the injury we were happy, and I thought his trial over a mile behind the good horse Romantic Warrior was very good. We’re looking for an improved run on the weekend.”

Romantic Warrior will not be the only quality horse in opposition, with the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) hero Sosie and G1 Neom Turf Cup (2100m) winner Royal Champion providing fierce opposition.

However, Sunday’s race will be the first time Rubylot has been granted his optimum conditions since he finished sixth to Tastiera in the race last year, and Hayes believes a return to that could prove the catalyst for a top-four finish.

He said: “He likes a good pace over 2000 metres and he’s a horse you must ride cold. If you ride a race on him, he gets very one-paced. But if you ride him cold, he finishes really well.

“With sleepy Hugh Bowman on we’ll just let him relax and we’ll be charging home late.”

FWD Champions Day takes place at Sha Tin on 26 April.