Moneymore got David Hayes off the mark on opening day and it was the Class Five battler again delivering as the champion trainer shook off a nagging drought at Sha Tin on Saturday.

After beginning his second Hong Kong stint in style with a double on September 6, Hayes went 48 runners without a win until Moneymore’s victory in the Class Five Wylie Handicap (1,400m).

“It was a little bit frustrating and it’s nice to get the monkey off the back,” Hayes said. “But every time I got a bit flat I would walk through my stable and look at all my new horses, I’ve got 50 of them. I know I’ve got some very nice young horses coming, so it’s quite bright at the end of the tunnel.”

Hayes turned 58 on Thursday and was relieved to get the gift he desired most: “that’s my present.”

Hayes wasn’t the only one welcoming Moneymore’s second victory of the season with open arms, with jockey Keith Yeung Ming-lun landing his first winner in over a month after 39 fruitless mounts.

“Keith does a lot of work for me so it’s just great to see Keith win on him,” Hayes said. “He gave him a 12 out of 10 ride.”

After joining Hayes from Chris So Wai-yin as a 22-start maiden, Moneymore has grown another leg with two wins and a third from three starts and the Australian handler is confident he’s not finished yet.

“He’s been fantastic, he’s been a bit of a surprise packet and he’s become consistent,” Hayes said. “What we’ll probably do is try to put the 10-pound claimer on [next start] and he’ll be very hard to beat.”

After jumping from barrier four, Yeung was content being shuffled back aboard Moneymore and the six-year-old travelled just forward of midfield.

Yeung followed Joao Moreira aboard favourite Galaxy Emperor into the straight before peeling off about 350m from home and hitting the line.

“I think going to Conghua and a little change of environment [helped] and I think the winkers certainly helped because he wobbled last start,” Hayes said. “He followed Joao – Joao did all the work – and he popped out and he was too good.”

Yeung now has four winners for the season after 15 of the 88 meetings – already half what he managed for the entire 2019-20 campaign – and is pleased the ball is rolling again.

“It’s nice to have a winner and especially for Mr Hayes,” said Yeung. “The horse is honest and he tries hard every time. Obviously the step-up in distance and the winkers were a big help.”

Yeung has battled through some significant dry spells in recent times but says he never doubted his ability.

“I was still confident, I never lose my faith. Things happen eventually so I just stay positive and wait for it to come,” said the 32-year-old, adding that he was looking forward to partaking in some yoga on a quiet Sunday off.