Hong Kong Racing
Readying for another Ka Ying Rising to the top
Ka Ying Rising has assumed an air of invincibility for his attempt at the Hong Kong record for consecutive wins in the Group 1 Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
The world's best sprinter is aiming for his 18th win in a row when he lines up in the second leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series (sprint triple crown).
The David Hayes-trained Ka Ying Rising late last month equalled the record of the legendary Silent Witness set more than 20 years ago when he raced away with the first leg of the series, the Group 1 Centenary Sprint Cup, winning with his usual ruthless efficiency.
If Ka Ying Rising wins as expected on Sunday and then takes out the Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize at Sha Tin on April 26, he will complete a second successive clean sweep of the Hong Kong Speed Series and earn a $HK5 million bonus.
Hayes, a member of the elite Australian Racing Hall of Fame, believes Ka Ying Rising has never been in better form for his attempt at Hong Kong racing history in the Silver Jubilee Cup.
"Ka Ying Rising is going through a stage where he is a little bit invincible,'' Hayes said.
"Physically he is stronger and I'm really looking forward to seeing him over 1400m.''
Hayes maintains Ka Ying Rising has returned from his win in The Everest at Royal Randwick last October a superior sprinter.
"My experience when I travel horses overseas is that 90 per cent come back better,'' Hayes said.
"Ka Ying Rising has certainly come back better from his trip to Sydney – it has taken him to another level.
"He runs 1m 7s and 'change' every time he races over 1200m. He continually runs a fast number but if you watch Zac (Purton, jockey) closely he has been easing the horse down the last 200m. Who knows how fast he could run?"
Ka Ying Rising has only raced once over 1400m and that was the Silver Jubilee Cup last year when the super sprinter romped home by one-and-a-half lengths and, as always, didn't need to be fully tested by Purton.
Hayes gave Ka Ying Rising a 1200m barrier trial at Sha Tin last Tuesday with the wonder horse cruising home to an easy win and running a fast 1m 8.03s.
The champion trainer said the trial was important to fine-tune Ka Ying Rising's preparation ahead of Sunday's 1400m test.
Hayes confirmed Ka Ying Rising will have another start before he lines up in his season-ending race, the Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize.
"Because there is two months between the Silver Jubilee Cup and the Chairman's Sprint Prize, he will have another lead-up race in a Group 2 (Sprint Cup),'' Hayes said.
"All being right, he will be on 20 wins in succession at the end of the season then he will go to 21 first-up and hopefully 22 for The Everest later in the year.''
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