Once the dust settles on the Hong Kong Sprint, and assuming Ka Ying Rising dominates as many expect, David Hayes will shift focus to playing the role of hunter rather than hunted in the Hong Kong Cup.

Romantic Warrior appears to have the 2000-metre Group 1 firmly under control – provided everything goes smoothly – but Hayes is content for Straight Arron to run to his best even if the realistic goal is a placing.

“We’re just going to follow Romantic Warrior and hope he has a bad day,” Hayes said.

“Romantic Warrior is a superstar but it is a small field with seven runners and sometimes those races become upsets.”

Straight Arron was fourth in the Group 2 Jockey Club Cup (2000m), finishing more than five lengths behind Romantic Warrior, leaving plenty of improvement required.

Hayes is pragmatic.

“We are hoping to give him a smooth run from barrier one and I am hoping he can run a place. A season ago he was the unlucky runner behind Romantic Warrior. Romantic Warrior had the tough run and he had the cosy run.”

Craig Williams will fly into Hong Kong on Sunday morning to take the mount.

Hayes also saddles Tomodachi Kokoroe in the Sprint and while he doesn’t expect the outsider to trouble Ka Ying Rising, he believes the horse’s form warrants aiming for a minor placing.

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