Ka Ying Rising forged into Hong Kong racing history with a record-equaling win in the HK$13-million Centenary Sprint Cup (G1) going 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) Sunday at Sha Tin.
Moments later trainer David Hayes predicted the world’s best sprinter could potentially break Sha Tin’s course record for 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs) next month.
Reacting to Ka Ying Rising’s effort to post a 17th consecutive victory to match the winning streak of Silent Witness from 2002 to 2005, Hayes believes the superstar galloper can threaten Sha Tin’s 1,400-meter record of 1:19.92s – jointly held by Encouraging and Packing Hermod – when he contests the HK$13-million Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (G1) on Feb. 22.
Ka Ying Rising on Sunday clocked 1:07.66s – outside his own 1,200-meter Sha Tin turf track record of 1:07.20s – after being allowed to coast to the line in defeating Helios Express by 1 1/4 lengths with Fast Network a further two lengths back.
Moderately away at the start, Ka Ying Rising quickly mustered speed to lead before Matthew Chadwick drove Beauty Waves to the front. Aware of Luke Ferraris and Lucky With You lurking to his outside, Purton ensured Ka Ying Rising had clear running before unleashing the gelding from the 300-meter mark.
Exploding clear, and with the race at his mercy with a four-length lead, Purton eased up noticeably over the final 200 meters, clocking a modest :11.47s.
“The winning margin wasn’t probably the greatest, but it’s probably the most Zac has ever eased him down,” Hayes said. “So, he had a very easy last 200 meters and he dominated as the market suggested he would. Just nice to see him do it.”
Ka Ying Rising, a New Zealand-bred Shamexpress gelding, improved his record to 18 wins from 20 starts and is unbeaten since the Feb. 12, 2024 with career purse money of HK$129.8 million.
“I’m surprised at the time he ran, it didn’t feel like we went that quick,” said Purton. “I had [jockey Luke aboard Lucky With You] Ferraris to my outside and I wasn’t sure if he wanted to stay there and keep me in or track me, I just wanted to make sure my bloke was in a rhythm.
“It is very rare what Silent Witness did. I never thought I would see [it repeated].”
PEDIGREE NOTES
Ka Ying Rising is a son of Group 1-winning sprinter SHAMEXPRESS (Oreilly, by Last Tycoon), an Australian stallion. Ka Ying Rising’s dam, Missy Moo was a multiple winner in New Zealand and she is by Per Incanto, a son of Street Cry (Ire). Ka Ying Rising is one of just two foals she produced.
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Hong Kong fans were later treated to another superior performance when ROMANTIC WARRIOR began his trek to a Triple Crown sweep with a win in the HK$13-million Stewards’ Cup (G1) and launched his bid for the Hong Kong Triple Crown in scintillating style Sunday at Sha Tin.
A 12th Group 1 success for Romantic Warrior began to look like a foregone conclusion as early as 400 meters out as a stock-still in the saddle James McDonald eased up alongside early leader Lucky Sweynesse, with defending Stewards’ Cup winner Voyage Bubble three wide and treading water in his attempts to get after Danny Shum’s eight-year-old, and Mark Newnham’s My Wish stuck in traffic further back in the field.
After eyeballing Manfred Man’s galloper for 100 meters, James McDonald quickly sent Romantic Warrior clear. Lucky Sweynesse boxed on gamely to finish second on his debut over the mile course, but the Irish-bred Acclamation (GB) gelding continued to pull away, passing the post 1 3/4 lengths clear of the field. Voyage Bubble was further back in third, with My Wish in a dead-heat for fourth – with Sunlight Power – after a torrid run in transit.
Regular partner McDonald long ago ran out of superlatives to describe “the horse of a lifetime,” but was thrilled to claim the Stewards’ Cup at the second attempt.
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