DAVID HAYES CONFIRMS GROUP ONE TEST FOR LITTLE BROSE IN HONG KONG DEBUT: ‘IT’S A THROW AT THE STUMPS’

Champion trainer will set gun recruit a big task by running him in the Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) on Champions Day

David Hayes will throw Group One Blue Diamond Stakes (1,200m) winner Little Brose in the deep end for his Hong Kong debut when he contests the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) on Champions Day later this month.

The champion Australian trainer is under no illusion about the task he has set Little Brose, who will clash with the likes of multiple Group One winner California Spangle, Victor The Winner and Japan's Mad Cool in his first race in the city.

Trained by Hayes' sons JD, Ben and Will in Australia, the Per Incanto colt won the Blue Diamond Stakes last year and the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1,000m) in 2022.

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He arrived in Hong Kong last December with a rating of 77 and has had four trials in the lead up to his much-anticipated return.

"He's going to go deep in the Group One," Hayes said. "It's a throw at the stumps. It will be a very unusual situation.

"If he runs fourth in the big race, his next start he'll be in a Class Three off 77 and he's a 106 international-rated horse.

"The lovely thing about the Jockey Club now, they give these young, Group horses a chance off the handicap. In the old days, he would have come in as a 98 [rater].

"I don't care if he goes up 50 points if he wins the Group One because he's a stallion prospect. But if he runs a good race, he's still protected in the handicap, which is great. He gets a maximum of five [points] for running a place."

Hayes will get an insight into his game plan for the HK$22 million Chairman's Sprint Prize when Little Brose trials again at Happy Valley on Friday.

"He'll have a trial in blinkers on Friday and that will decide whether I run him in blinkers or not," he said.

"My mail from very good informants - my sons - is that he's a very lazy worker and trialler, and he races much better than he works. I think his trials have been pretty good for a lazy worker."

Before Friday's crucial trial, Hayes will bid to continue his top form with a team of five runners at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, headlined by Samarkand and Strongest Boy.

Samarkand has had a breakout season in Hong Kong with four victories and will chase a hat-trick in the Class Three Magazine Gap Handicap (1,650m).

The son of Mongolian Khan has thrived at the city circuit, notching all four wins this term there.

"Really, really happy with him," said Hayes, who is three wins shy of reaching 600 in Hong Kong.

"I was up at Conghua and his trackwork shows he hasn't gone backwards. He loves the Valley and he gives himself the run of the race. You win a lot of races if you do that, you go a lot higher than your ability.

"I've only had him this season, but I think he's like many horses who take time to adjust to Hong Kong and he's really acclimatised."

Jerry Chau Chun-lok will again ride Samarkand, who must overcome the outside draw in the field of 12.

Strongest Boy heads into the Class Four Mount Cameron Handicap (1,650m) in top form with a win and two placings from his past three starts.

"He'll be one of the favourites," Hayes said. "He's absolutely thriving in Conghua and he's always hard to beat in this class."

Zac Purton will ride Strongest Boy, who has drawn barrier eight.