Ka Ying Rising extended his remarkable winning run in the ka ying rising with a dominant display in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin on Sunday morning ET. Trained by David Hayes, the sprinter produced a ninth Group 1 victory and now has 20 consecutive wins after another effortless success over course and distance three weeks on from his previous victory. With Zac Purton in the saddle, Ka Ying Rising tracked the leaders before pulling clear 300m from home and setting a new track record of 1min 7. 10 sec.
Ka Ying Rising delivers again in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize
Ka Ying Rising never looked under pressure once the race reached the decisive stage, and the finish underlined how far clear of the field he remains. Purton positioned him prominently, then asked for the effort that turned the race into another statement win for the Hong Kong star.
The performance also completed a second straight season in which Ka Ying Rising has won all three Group 1 races in Hong Kong’s Speed Series. That level of consistency has become the defining feature of the gelding’s campaign, and Sunday’s result only strengthened that picture.
Purton and Bowman on the same race, different outcomes
Purton said Ka Ying Rising is “something really, really special, ” adding that the horse continues to surprise people with what he is able to do. He also noted that Japan had sent over its best sprinter, Satono Reve, and that Ka Ying Rising “has just toyed with him” in the same way he does to rivals so often.
Hugh Bowman took a different view of the race shape around Helios Express, saying he will not change the gelding’s usual pattern for future clashes with Ka Ying Rising. Bowman said Helios Express is best ridden to settle back and produce a late finish, because trying to unsettle Ka Ying Rising would do more harm to his own horse than to the favorite.
That approach is backed by recent results. Helios Express has finished second behind Ka Ying Rising in his three runs since that December clash, and Bowman said that is the most realistic outcome again in the latest meeting.
Further Sha Tin results add weight to the card
Romantic Warrior added another major prize with a fourth FWD QEII Cup and a 14th Group 1 success, stretching clear 300m out to win by a length under James McDonald. McDonald called the horse a dream to ride and praised trainer Danny Shum and his team for their preparation.
In the Champions Mile, My Wish won for trainer Mark Newnham, while Docklands, the only British challenger in the field of 14, finished an admirable third. Docklands travelled in midfield and lost second place late, finishing half a length behind Cap Ferrat, who was a neck behind the winner.
What comes next for Ka Ying Rising
Ka Ying Rising has now put together a record-extending streak that keeps growing under the lights of Hong Kong racing, and the latest win leaves little doubt about his current level. The next question is whether anyone in the division can alter the pattern the next time Ka Ying Rising returns to the track, because right now the answer keeps coming back the same way.
