Overview
- He stopped the clock at 1:19.36 in the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin, trimming the 1,400m course mark by 0.56 seconds.
- Zac Purton scored by about three and a half lengths, with Helios Express second and Lucky Sweynesse third.
- Hayes instructed Purton to ride through the line to target the record, and the horse now owns eight Group 1 victories including The Everest.
- Connections plan to maintain a month-between-runs rhythm, with the Sprint Cup on April 6 and the Chairman’s Sprint Prize on April 26 named as next aims.
- The streak that began in February 2024 has sharpened debate over his standing among Hong Kong greats, as figures from the Silent Witness era caution against direct comparisons.