Dual Hong Kong Champion Trainer David Hayes is a huge fan of Conghua Racecourse. He’s been praising its environment and top-tier facilities, calling them a game-changer for shaping his stable’s runners—especially the younger ones.
Hayes has a proven track record here, standing out as one of the most successful trainers at getting horses ready in Conghua before they hit the tracks in Hong Kong. Just ahead of the 2025/26 Season Finale at Happy Valley this Wednesday (July 15), the numbers speak for themselves: 20 of his 54 winners this season spent time training at Conghua between their races.
“I think I have been one of the leading Conghua stables over the last three years, and I believe next season will be even better,” Hayes said. “Most of my young horses have benefited from training in Conghua. They will continue to improve next season and hopefully become my vintage crop.”
For Hayes, Conghua’s diverse training setups and world-class facilities are absolutely crucial for schooling and developing younger horses.
“I think young horses learn a lot more by being trained in different surroundings,” he said. “They tend to look around and experience new things, and the most important factor is that they can become accustomed to the grass track. They have more opportunities to train on turf than when they are based at Sha Tin.”
“As a result, they can learn more in Conghua, which helps them mature both mentally and physically,” he added.
If you need a textbook example of how well this program works, look no further than the world’s top sprinter, Ka Ying Rising. He spent a big chunk of his early career at Conghua and is back there right now, stretching his legs and gearing up for his return next season.
