DAVID HAYES TARGETS IJC TRAINERS' BONUS

By Darren Winningham and Graham Potter | Monday, December 8, 2025

HRO’s Darren Winningham, on assignment in Hong Kong, caught up with trainer David Hayes to discuss … yes, Ka Yng Rising (you have to) … but, in the first instance, Hayes’ runners in the four legs of the Longines International Jockey’ Championship at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

WINNO: “I see you have seven runners entered over the four legs of the IJC. You are obviously after the trainer’s bonus that is offered on the night.”

DH: “Well it a nice bonus to get isn’t it … so, certainly we targeted it with a bunch of in-form horses that have drawn well. Rachel (King) is on a couple of them and there are a couple of last start winners.

“One of them will really suit Rachel … Samarkand. He is pretty good from the front and her other ride for me … Romantic Son is an inform horse in a very tough race.”

(Samarkland races in race seven, the third leg of the IJC. Romantic Son competes one race later in the fourth leg of the IJC.

And, so on to Ka Ying Rising.

WINNO: “Ka Ying Rising … back from Sydney, winning here again on his return.”

DH: “He is going very well. He is a bigger, stronger unit than he was last year when he won here.”

Enough said.

There is never any news out of the Ka Ying Rising camp for his opposition to take as a positive for their chances. It remains all systems go with their champion from the Hayes yard, but, remember, the star trainer will firstly be focussed on giving the results at Happy Valley and the trainer’s bonus a full go on Wednesday.

As Hayes said, it’s a nice bonus to get.

*The IJC Trainer’s bonus offers a pool of HK $500 000 with the winner taking home HK$300 000. Hayes previously won this bonus in 2021.

David Hayes