Hong Kong Racing
Ka Ying Rising to more record challenges
Champion jockey Zac Purton is convinced Ka Ying Rising has become a more complete racehorse as he prepares for a Hong Kong record 18th consecutive win in the Group 1 Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Purton agrees with trainer David Hayes' assertion that Ka Ying Rising has returned to Hong Kong a superior sprinter since his win in The Everest at Royal Randwick last spring.
"Ka Ying Rising feels like he's a more well-rounded and mature horse now,'' Purton said.
"Physically, he looks that bit bigger and stronger again, but mentally he has come back a completely different horse.
"He used to get a little bit agitated and was a nervous-type of horse, but these days he is so chilled and is handling everything in his stride.
"As time has gone on, he has really settled down into a beautiful horse to do anything with.''
Ka Ying Rising, the world's best sprinter, equalled the Hong Kong record of 17 successive wins set by the legendary Silent Witness more than 20 years ago when he romped home with the Centenary Sprint Cup on January 25.
Hayes then gave Ka Ying Rising a barrier trial hit-out on the Sha Tin all-weather track on February 10 and the gelding raced away to win by nearly five lengths, recording an incredible 1m 08.03s for the 1200m.
"I keep saying Ka Ying Rising moves better on the dirt than he does on the grass, it's incredible,'' Purton said.
"But the leader in that trial was running, it was going hard, and he's such a competitive horse.
"When they came around the corner he just wanted to put them to 'bed' and I didn't want to disappoint him.
"Also, he is going to 1400m on Sunday so he needed to stretch his legs.''
Ka Ying Rising went to a newTimeform
peak rating of 134 to win the Centenary Sprint Cup last start, which makes him the highest rated horse in training in world racing at the moment.French champion Calandagan, who finished 2025 as the officially the world's best racehorse, has a Timeform rating of 133.
After Sunday's Silver Jubilee Cup, Ka Ying Rising has two more scheduled starts this season culminating with the Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize at Sha Tin in late April.
Then Ka Ying Rising will attempt to go back-to-back in the $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick in October.
Purton said Ka Ying Rising enjoyed his time in Sydney last spring and did particularly well at the Canterbury quarantine training and racing facility,
"Ka Ying Rising surprised us with how well he travelled to Sydney last year,'' Zac Purton said.
"He settled into Canterbury beautifully and really enjoyed himself.
"You don't want to have them 'screwed' down going there if they don't handle the trip.
"But now that we know he does then Dave can do a bit more work with him again when he goes to Sydney for The Everest later in the year.''
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