Tuesday 26 May 2026 4:43 pm
Andrea Atzeni is closing in on his personal best tally of wins in Hong Kong
THERE is little doubt trainer David Hayes would have breathed a huge sigh of relief when Sunday’s winner My Mars broke a long losing sequence for the stable, stretching back to the end of last month.A total of 56 consecutive losers would have put a serious dent in the aspirations of Hayes, who is seeking his first trainers’ title since the 1998/99 season.Hayes, however, still has plenty of ammunition to fire from his stable and, only seven wins behind leader Danny Shum, has time to make another title charge before the season ends.The legendary trainer has called upon his great friend and jockey Zac Purton to provide some magic aboard a couple of gallopers, who on recent form look hard to beat.Top-weight Withallmyfaith drops down in class after a series of commendable efforts against better company in the Rhine Handicap (12.40pm) and looks likely to gain an overdue win.With their present win strike-rate at 26%, the Hayes and Purton partnership will hope to improve further on that figure when they team up with hat-trick seeking Honest Witness in the six-furlong Seine Handicap (3.50pm) over six furlongs.The four-year-old has been a revelation since different tactics were employed by bouncing out in front and making all in his last two races, but he now faces a stern challenge, with front-running Matters Most in opposition.Honest Witness also faces a stiff task carrying a hefty 10-pound penalty for his last start win and takes on the exceptionally well-handicapped and ideally drawn ROBOT LUCKY STAR, who is likely to get the run of the race under Andrea Atzeni and be hard to stop in the closing stages.POINTERRobot Lucky Star 3.50pm Happy Valley
