Quality four-year-old Rubylot proved he will be one of the leading contenders for the Classic Mile after an impressive win against strong opposition in Sunday’s Class Two Racing Club Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin.

Sent off a $6.6 chance, the David Hayes-trained gelding ran on powerfully from fifth under Brenton Avdulla to beat Young Champion and fellow Classic Mile aspirants, Johannes Brahms and Packing Hermod.

After spearing through a gap between rivals to overhaul the $2.4 favourite Young Champion in the final 100m, Rubylot boosted his record to five wins from 16 starts as Hayes and connections set their sights on the Classic Mile on January 31.

The son of Rubick emerged as a four-year-old series contender with three superb wins last season before enhancing his reputation with a stunning first-up victory.

“I’m really excited because we’ve set him for the Classic Mile and he’s hit form at the right time,” Hayes beamed.

“He just missed in his last run [when second to Packing Hermod] and then he went one step up in probably a harder race today. He’s crying out for a mile, so it’s really exciting going forward.”

Hayes has found an ideal Classic Mile replacement for stable star Ka Ying Rising, who will instead tackle next Sunday’s Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m).

Avdulla will maintain the mount on Rubylot in the first leg of the four-year-old series after a well-executed ride on Sunday.

Jumping from barrier two, Rubylot settled three back on the fence and was briefly held up for clear running at the top of the straight before Avdulla moved off the inside to take a run between Sing Dragon and Dancing Code.

As Young Champion surged to the lead under Zac Purton just before the 100m, Rubylot lifted on his inside to snatch the lead and score by half a length.

“He was great,” Avdulla said after Rubylot won in 1:20.89 – just 0.61 seconds outside the class record.

“Obviously he drew well, so he was always going to get the right run but he handled himself well. He had to get his way out and [he] made his own luck from the top of the straight.

“Zac had a margin on him from halfway up [the straight] but, to his credit, he’s stuck it out well and his best work was his last 50m. He came away well, he was ridden to find the line strong and he got the job done. He’s got a bit of quality.”

Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s Johannes Brahms lost no admirers heading towards the Classic Mile, storming home from near last after a slow start to finish an eye-catching third.

Francis Lui Kin-wai’s Packing Hermod also produced a top Classic Mile trial, charging down the outside from last to grab fourth under top weight of 130 pounds.

While Purton narrowly missed out on the feature of the day, the champion jockey booted home a double to draw to within six wins of breaking Douglas Whyte’s all-time Hong Kong record.

Purton lifted Chris So Wai-yin’s Sunny Da Best to victory in the second section of the Class Four Wu Kau Tang Handicap (1,400m), before striking later on the card on Masterofmyuniverse in the Class Three Hebe Haven Handicap (1,200m).

With 1,808 career wins in the city, Purton could be poised to break Whyte’s record on next Sunday’s bumper card highlighted by the Centenary Sprint Cup and the Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m).

Avdulla joined Purton with a double on Sunday after also guiding Juneau Pride to victory in the Class Four Hung Hom Bay Handicap (1,400m).

Juneau Pride and Masterofmyuniverse delivered John Size a double, meaning the master trainer has produced 15 wins since the start of December.