Sometimes the best things are unexpected and that was definitely the case for trainer David Hayes as super-sub Storm Rider took out the Class Two Guangzhou Handicap (1,200m) at Happy Valley on Sunday.

First reserve for the race, Storm Rider snuck into the contest at 10am on Saturday morning after Packing Bole was withdrawn, just after Hayes had already galloped his five-year-old at Sha Tin.

That was no barrier to success, however, as Storm Rider was gifted the inside gate and after being smashed in betting from $5.5 into $2.95, the writing was soon on the wall when Karis Teetan landed perfectly in third.

Travelling powerfully throughout, he took over at the 300m pole and was always fending off the challenge of Colourful King to eventually win by a neck.

“You know you’re having a good run when that happens,” Hayes said of Storm Rider’s promotion to the field.

“Barriers win races and he drew the beautiful barrier. He’s gone all the way to the upper class now, which is wonderful. When he was second last time by a short head, he probably ran the best sectional of the day.

“I think he’ll be able to hold his spot in the upper class. He’s probably going to be better at 1,400m.”

It was also a milestone for Teetan, who celebrated his 300th winner at the Valley with victory on Storm Rider.

It was a fortunate pickup ride for the Mauritian and he was full of gratitude to Hayes and owner Calvin Francis Tien.

“I was lucky to pick up the ride – on his last run, he was always a good ride in this race with no weight,” Teetan said.

“Thanks to David and the owner for giving me the opportunity. He had a good run through from that draw and it’s nice to get 300 wins at Happy Valley – how good.”

Storm Rider was the second leg for a double for Hayes, who continued his remarkable run with sprinters when Harmony N Blessed toughed it out to win the Class Three Kwangtung Cup (1,200m).

The race scenario worked out perfectly for the evergreen nine-year-old, who sat behind the searing pace of Candlelight Dinner and Parents’ Love from gate two.

Purton peeled him out off the turn and after looking vulnerable to the fast-charging Eternal Fortune, Harmony N Blessed dug deep and used all his stamina reserves to fend off his rival by a short head.

A veteran of 64 Hong Kong races, of which he has won 10, Harmony N Blessed has been a joy to own for an enthusiastic group of owners who are loving the ride with him.

“He’s loving his racing - I’m 63 and going all right so maybe we’ll see him at ten,” joked Hayes. “If he gets the right conditions, he can run really well and today the barrier was the key back in class.

“To see the owners get such a thrill for his 10th win, it’s great. To do it at the age of nine in Hong Kong is really hard.”

The win promoted Hayes into second in the trainers’ premiership race, catapulting him past Caspar Fownes and onto 15 winners for the campaign, five behind the leader Mark Newnham.