Karis Teetan has backed David Hayes’ move to apply blinkers to Star Mac, claiming the crucial gear change will “make a big difference” in Sunday’s Classic Cup (1,800m) at Sha Tin.

The Mauritian jockey’s confidence grew when Star Mac relished the addition of blinkers to storm home from last for an impressive trial win on the Sha Tin dirt track last week.

Second behind Zac Purton in the jockeys’ premiership with 50 wins this season, Teetan was also buoyed by Star Mac’s fast-finishing third to Helios Express in the Classic Mile (1,600m) last start.

The son of Heroic Valour overcame a slow start to run on powerfully from second last, recording the fastest final 400m of the race.

“David has decided to put the blinkers on and I think it’s going to make a big difference,” Teetan said.

“He’ll be able to focus a bit more and concentrate in the race. From the 800m to the 400m he doesn’t travel much, so I think it’s going to make him be in the race a bit more instead of dropping too far back.

“It was a really good run in the Classic Mile last time. I thought pretty highly about this horse even though he was going into the race with that rating.

“It was always going to be difficult, but he proved that he was good enough to be there and he’s improved a lot since then.”

Teetan also expects Star Mac, a three-time placegetter from five career starts, to thrive stepping up to 1,800m for the first time.

“I think the 1,800m will help, he’s shown big improvement and his trial was good, so it’s going to be an interesting race,” Teetan said.

“He finished pretty strong last time and on that run going to 1,800m is what he’s looking for. We just hope he runs well because he’s been doing very well in the morning.”

Teetan won the Classic Cup on Thunder Fantasy in 2015 and Hayes prepared Resfa, who won the second leg of the four-year-old Classic Series in 1999.

Galaxy Patch is another key ride for Teetan on Sunday, with the talented sprinter dropping back in distance in the Class Two Rutland Handicap (1,000m).

In an unconventional move, Pierre Ng Pang-chi will then back Galaxy Patch up in the Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) seven days later.

Teetan and Ng are hoping the straight-course sprint on Sunday improves Galaxy Patch’s racing manners.

“It’s going to be interesting to see what he does,” Teetan said.

“I think [1,000m] is going to be challenging for him. Over the 1,200m he can get back a bit and travel behind horses and I think he may be a bit outpaced.

“This is what stopped him from going to the Classic Mile, just overdoing it. He still needs to learn how to settle down and we didn’t think he was ready to go for anything over 1,200m a few months ago. I just hope this run takes a little bit out of him and settles him down because he goes 1,400m next.

“I think he’s going to improve and we’ll definitely see the best out of him next season. He’s going to learn a lot from this season and he’ll be a better horse next season.”

Galaxy Patch is one of Hong Kong’s up-and-coming sprinters with four wins from six starts. Get The Monies, Gangnam Star, Galaxy Witness, Chilli Baba, Stellar Swift, Lean Hero and Superb Kid are Teetan’s other rides at Sha Tin.