David Hayes has regained some momentum this season on the back of a host of progressive gallopers and the Australian trainer hopes to kick things up a notch at Monday’s Lunar New Year meeting.

With 21 winners on the board and Star Mac the latest of his horses to turn heads when finishing third behind Helios Express in last weekend’s Classic Mile, Hayes is pleased with the way things are going and is excited about what might await at Sha Tin on Monday.

“It’s probably one of the nicer teams of progressive horses I’ve saddled up during my second Hong Kong stint,” said Hayes, who returned to the city ahead of the 2020-21 campaign.

One galloper who has been progressing nicely through the ranks under Hayes’ tutelage is Lucky Encounter, who has risen from a mark of 52 to a rating of 83 in just eight starts.

The four-year-old is at the foot of the weights and will carry just 118 pounds as he attempts to bolster his reputation in the Class Two Yue Yee Handicap (1,200m).

“He has trialled well and he’s ready to run a good race,” Hayes said. “He looks well placed in that Class now. He responded in the ear muffs as he was over-racing a bit – his last run he relaxed and worked home. The last 200m was really good and I think he’s come on from that. I really like him.”

Storm Rider is another horse Hayes is bringing forward, with the three-year-old chasing a hat-trick in the Class Three Kut Cheong Handicap (1,400m).

His past two wins have come from double-digit draws under good rides from Zac Purton and Hayes is hoping Alfred Chan Ka-hei can weave some magic of his own from barrier 10 on Monday.

“Storm Rider has been very good,” Hayes said. “Last start he had a wide gate and Zac rode an 11/10 race and got a dream run.”

Ka Ying Rising in the Class Three Prosperity Handicap (1,200m) and Master Mastermind in section two of the Class Four Good Fortune Handicap (1,200m) are two more Hayes gallopers with potential.

“Ka Ying Rising will love looking up and not seeing Wunderbar and Master Mastermind ran very well first up,” Hayes said. “I think he’s a nice horse and he’s trialled well since.”

Hayes also unleashes the highest-rated horse in his yard, with Running Glory stepping out for the first time under the Australian’s care in the six-horse Class One Chinese New Year Cup (1,400m).

The six-year-old was progressive for John Size last year, winning twice at Class Two level and finishing runner-up in the Group Three Centenary Vase (1,800m), but he has disappointed in two runs this season.

“Normally my 100 raters have been leaving, so it’s nice to have one come back,” said Hayes, referencing the steady stream of smart gallopers transferred out of his stable last season.

“I know his form has been a bit off of late but he’s had a little holiday, put a bit of weight on and hopefully he’ll strip well fresh. He’s a good horse, we all know that, and he was always going for this race.

“I was a bit shocked how light the entries were. No one expected that. He’s a very awkward horse to place because of his rating so I targeted this race from the moment I inherited him from John.”