Ka Ying Rising too strong in Sprint
An incredible season for Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) culminated in a much deserved maiden success at the top level on Sunday when the sprinting sensation landed the Hong Kong International Races’ Hong Kong Sprint (Gr 1, 1200m) at Sha Tin, a performance that placed The Everest (Gr 1, 1200m) on the agenda for the dynamic sprinter.
Having taken all before him in 2024 prior to Sunday’s elite-level contest, including when smashing Sacred Kingdom’s (Encosta De Lago) long-standing track record over the 1200 metres at Sha Tin with an incredible victory in the Jockey Club Sprint (Gr 2, 1200m), the David Hayes-trained gelding was long odds-on to score in the HK$26 million (approx. AU$52.29 million) sprint and he did not let his supporters down.
Under the supervision of Hong Kong’s reigning champion jockey Zac Purton, Ka Ying Rising wasn’t the best away from his wide barrier in 11 but was quickly rushed up to take a prominent position heading to the first bend.
Travelling strongest of all rounding the home turn, Purton pushed the button on the four-year-old at the 300-metre mark and the pair soon hit the front.
Entering the final 200 metres, Ka Ying Rising had pulled himself at least a length clear of his nearest rival and looked set to win by a widening margin.
However, the chasers continued to gain on the gelding inside the final 100 metres but Ka Ying Rising had more than enough left to see out the race, eventually defeating Helios Express (Toronado) by a half-length with just a neck back to the third-placed Satono Reve (Lord Kanaloa).
The Ciaron Maher-trained Recommendation (Shalaa) finished 12th of the 14 runners.
“Something lunged at the gate just before he went and it took his mind off it and he turned his head, so he was a little bit slow to step,” Purton said.
“And then Victor The Winner just bored my neck the whole way and he never quite relaxed the way he has. He was working the whole way and never had time to relax.”
Purton also said Ka Ying Rising jumped something in the straight which distracted the four-year-old, who improved his overall record to nine wins from 11 starts.
“He wasn’t at his best today and is better than this and still got the job done,” Purton said.
It was Hayes first Group 1 victory since his return to the Hong Kong training ranks four years ago – and his first since All Thrills Too (St Covet) in 2002.
Hayes said he was proud because Purton said everything went wrong really.
“The start wasn’t perfect and he got pressure when he normally gets a bit of cover, so I think it was a better win than it looked,” he said.
“You’re never confident going into international Group 1s because there’s so many unknowns, but I was as confident as you could be.
“Probably not as confident as the market, but in market terms I thought $1.80, not $1.10.”
Hayes will wait to see how his rising star recovers before deciding on his next assignment.
“We’ll see how he pulls up, but the initial one will be the Group 1 sprint in late January, six weeks between the runs and then after that, we’ll make a decision whether we go to the [Hong Kong Classic] mile or not,” Hayes said.
Hayes said it had been the first time in his past three runs that Ka Ying Rising didn’t get everything his own way and didn’t relax.
“He was going to relax, Victor [The Winner] came up to him and really eyeballed him,” he said
“So, I think when he relaxes, we all know he’s more explosive. That was probably the least exciting to the eye, but I know that was a great win because he did pull.”
Hyped for weeks as closing in on the title of the world’s leading sprinter, Ka Ying Rising will continue his path to the world’s richest turf race, The Everest at Randwick next October.