David Hayes is in full support of Happy Valley’s expanded Boxing Day card, which is believed to be the first 10-race night meeting at the city circuit.

A third Class Four 1,650m contest was added to the meeting last week, meaning the action will kick off at 6.10pm on Thursday.

“I think it’s a wonderful thing. I’m all for it because it’s hard for the owners when they’ve got horses in training and they can’t get runs,” said Hayes.

“We need the extra races at the moment because there are just too many Class Four horses.”

While the Jockey Club has opted to add a 10th race to the public holiday card, officials stressed there are no plans for more races on a normal Wednesday night at Happy Valley, where nine races will continue to be the maximum.

Hayes has six runners on Thursday, with Ka Ying Resilience making the shift to the city circuit after a last-start Sha Tin second on his seasonal reappearance.

Ka Ying Resilience has twice finished runner-up down the Sha Tin straight to go with one 1,200m fourth at the venue, while his only visit to Happy Valley didn’t go exactly to plan.

“I think he’ll like the Valley,” said Hayes. “He went very fast around there without a jockey on one day – he ducked under the gates before a trial.

“He’s knocking on the door and I think he’s going to win very soon.”

Ka Ying Resilience has drawn gate three for a Class Four Venus Handicap (1,000m) featuring the likes of Happy Tango and Parents’ Love, with jockey Zac Purton retaining the ride.

Youth Power has saluted out of gates one and two in recent months and the galloper will have barrier three at his disposal under Keith Yeung Ming-lun as he looks to make it three wins from his past four starts in the third section of the Class Four Saturn Handicap (1,650m).

“There’s a real key to him – if he draws a good barrier, he’ll keep managing in Class Four,” said Hayes of Youth Power, who dipped to a rating of 33 before breaking his maiden at start 16.

“When he draws wide, it’s a bit difficult because of his racing pattern. But if he keeps getting decent draws he can keep going.”

Soleil Fighter has also landed an inside alley for the Class Three Neptune Handicap (1,650m), with Hugh Bowman piloting the last-start winner from gate six.

“He’s very similar to Youth Power. If he draws well, he runs well. He’s a European horse who’s taken a year to settle in,” Hayes said of Soleil Fighter, who tasted his first Hong Kong success at start eight under British jockey Hollie Doyle during the International Jockeys’ Championship earlier this month.

Hayes also saddles up Young Horizon, Red Majesty and Allgreektome as he looks to add to his 21 wins for the season and stay in touch with trainers’ premiership leader Pierre Ng Pang-chi, who sits on 25 victories through 31 meetings.

Meanwhile, this year’s Hong Kong Derby winner has a new home, with Massive Sovereign transferring from Dennis Yip Chor-hong to David Eustace.