David Hayes is hopeful Tomodachi Kokoroe can complete a remarkable journey by gaining a start in the HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) in December after the evergreen galloper clinched the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Shing Mun Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (12 October).



Imported to Hong Kong, China as a 64-rater as the winner of six races in a row in Australia as Bank Bank Bank, Tomodachi Kokoroe (133lb) slotted his sixth Hong Kong win from 33 starts and took his prizemoney to beyond HK$13 million with his latest success under Harry Bentley.



The Written Tycoon gelding will be aimed at two key lead-up races to the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint on 14 December – the HK$5.35 million G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) on 26 October and the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) on 23 November.



“It’s not bad when they carry the grandstand and go via the Cape,” Hayes said, referencing Tomodachi Kokoroe’s feat to overcome a wide run and win. “That was a very good win and he’ll go into the lead-up races to the Hong Kong Sprint.”



Now seven, Tomodachi Kokoroe has returned for his fourth Hong Kong season in sparkling form, notching successive victories under Bentley, whose five wins this campaign include a remarkable four triumphs in Class 2.



Despite rising 10lb in the handicap and jumping from barrier 11, the former Australian galloper edged out Lady’s Choice (134lb) by a neck with Baby Crystal (126lb) third in 1m 08.33s.



“It was a great performance. He (Tomodachi Kokoroe) had to raise his game, obviously, with the 10-pound hike,” Bentley said. “He jumped really well and I was following Baby Crystal across and I thought I was going to be in the one back, one off position, but then I think it was Lady’s Choice hanging out, so it didn’t make my life too easy with that and I had to go a little bit wider than ideal.



“But credit to the horse, he really dug deep and stuck his head out in that last 100 metres. Great training performance and the horse is trying extremely hard.”



Fresh from a treble on Wednesday night (8 October) at Happy Valley, Tony Cruz’s stable continued its hot run of form with a double, both under the guidance of Angus Chung.



He Was You (131lb) claimed the Class 5 Chai Wan Kok Handicap (1200m) before Good Luck Babe (132lb) landed the Class 4 Sha Tsui Handicap (1400m), propelling Cruz to nine wins for the season and fourth place overall behind Mark Newnham (11), Caspar Fownes (nine) and Hayes (nine), who both have more minor placings than Cruz.

Fownes enhanced hopes of a fifth trainers’ championship with a brace after the win of Sky Heart (126lb) for Ellis Wong in the Class 3 Yau Kom Tau Handicap (1400m) and the runaway triumph of Daily Trophy (130lb) under Lyle Hewitson in the Class 4 Lo Wai Handicap (1200m, dirt).



“I think once the rain came and the track was sealed that he (Daily Trophy) tends to like this particular surface better than the normal dirt. He won on a similar surface last season from the back with Harry Bentley. It was good,” Fownes said.



“Lyle (Hewitson) did a good job – I’m happy for him to get a winner for us. He’s been working hard and the horse has done well.”



Hewitson produced an even better ride on Newnham’s Bull Attitude (118lb) in the Class 4 Sham Tseng Handicap (1600m), saving ground from barrier two and waiting for a late split to deny Happy Universe (126lb).



“We had a good draw today, so we could hold him up and save ground – it was perfect,” Newnham said. “Inside the last furlong, he was strong. It was great to get a win with him.”



Zac Purton extended his lead in the jockeys’ championship to 11 over Hugh Bowman with a double, prevailing aboard Chris So’s Oldtown (127lb) in the Class 4 Yan Chai Trophy Handicap (1200m) and David Hall’s Mr Energia (123lb) in the Class 3 Shek Wai Kok Handicap (1200m, dirt).



Eight-time champion Purton has 18 wins for the campaign.



Preparing to partner Meydaan in the G1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) in Melbourne on Saturday (18 October), Andrea Atzeni struck aboard Jamie Richards-trained Jubilant Winner (132lb) in the first section of the Class 4 Kwok Shui Handicap (1200m).



The Italian, who rode Giavellotto into fourth place in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) in Paris, France on 5 October, said: “It’s brilliant to be able to travel and it’s great that the Club allows us to do it, obviously without missing races here, and to ride in the Arc last week and the Caulfield Cup this weekend is absolutely brilliant.”



Danny Shum-trained Matters Most (115lb) earned a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million when the four-year-old snared the Class 3 Chinese Recreation Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1200m) under a smart ride by Wong to commence the apprentice’s afternoon double.



Formerly trained by Ralph Beckett, the Advertise gelding won two races in the United Kingdom before export to Hong Kong.



Hong Kong racing continues on Wednesday night (15 October) at Happy Valley.