David Hayes' Romantic Son delivers stable a third straight DBS x Manulife Million Challenge

Trainer David Hayes clinched a third straight DBS x Manulife Million Challenge title on Wednesday night at Happy Valley after Romantic Son produced a dramatic late surge to secure the series’ HK$1 million winner’s bonus for his connections.

Romantic Son sealed the competition on countback after landing the Class 3 Sing Woo Handicap over 1,200 meters despite jumping from barrier 12 and carrying top weight of 135 pounds. The win lifted Romantic Son to 45 points for the season-long series, level with Regal Gem, but Hayes’ runner earned the top prize because he finished with three wins to Regal Gem’s two under the competition’s regulations.

Hayes, who previously won the series with Soleil Fighter, said the latest victory carried added meaning.

“It was very exciting to see Romantic Son win it – he’s my syndicate horse and they’re a great bunch of people,” Hayes told the HKJC. “It’s such a thrill.”

The Million Challenge awards points in Class 3 races and above from September through Wednesday’s meeting, using a scale of 15 points for a win, six for second, four for third and three for fourth. Romantic Son’s victory ensured he could not be caught, while Regal Gem’s late bid fell short when he finished fourth in the Class 2 Blue Pool Handicap (1,200 meters). Regal Gem needed to finish in the top three to win outright but crossed behind Beauty Waves, Young Champion and Brave Star, settling for second overall and a HK$350,000 bonus.

In addition to the series bonus, Romantic Son boosted his earnings with race prizemoney, while confirming his affinity for Happy Valley. The four-year-old has now won four times from 19 starts, all at the tight city circuit.

Jockey Harry Bentley, standing in for the indisposed Dylan Browne McMonagle, guided Romantic Son to victory after the pair finished powerfully to overhaul California Blitz and Power Koepp in the stretch.

Elsewhere on the card, Awesome Fluke set a course record of 1 minute 37.74 seconds in the Class 2 Shan Kwong Handicap over 1,650 meters for trainer Ricky Yiu and jockey Andrea Atzeni, holding off Soleil Fighter and Huge Wave.

Hayes’ overall form also tightened the trainers’ championship race, moving him to 33 wins for the season, one behind leader Mark Newnham (34).