Ka Ying Rising makes it 11 in a row with flawless G2 Sprint Cup display

by Leo Schlink

Delivering a chilling reminder of his extraordinary talent, Ka Ying Rising posted his 11th consecutive victory with a blistering display in the HK$5.35 million G2 Sprint Cup (1200m) to crown Zac Purton’s return to race riding at Sha Tin on Sunday (30 March).

The world’s highest-rated sprinter, Ka Ying Rising (128lb) demolished his opposition with familiar nonchalance to score by three lengths from Helios Express (123lb) and Lucky With You (123lb) in 1m 08.18s after being eased down by Purton with 100m to go.

After stalking California Spangle to the 400m, Ka Ying Rising emerged from the triple Group 1 winner’s slipstream and exploded away with a 10.54s sectional to the 200m to put the contest beyond doubt as Helios Express finished second for the fifth time this season behind David Hayes’s superstar.

“The leader (California Spangle) today didn’t go as fast as I was hoping he would go. I travelled a bit stronger than I would have liked and with the extra weight on his back, I didn’t want to sit around and wait for the others, so I sent him for home early and he just let him do what he does,” Purton said.

“He was always cruising and he didn’t give us a moment of worry and that’s the good thing about him.”

Ka Ying Rising’s latest triumph elevated the four-year-old into outright third place for the most wins in a row in Hong Kong behind Silent Witness (17) and Golden Sixty (16), snapping the deadlock he previously shared with Co-Tack and Beauty Generation.

With 12 wins and two seconds from 14 starts overall, the Shamexpress gelding continues to thrive ahead of his final assignment of the season – the HK$22 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin on FWD Champions Day (Sunday, 27 April) – before a probable tilt at the G1 The Everest (1200m) in Sydney in October.

“It’s nice to come back and ride a horse like him. He’s a pleasure to do anything with, he’s really relaxed going to the gates and behind the gates now. He just does everything you want him to do,” seven-time Hong Kong champion jockey Purton said.

Clocking 21.88s for the final 400m, Ka Ying Rising edged to within a win of equalling the record for the most wins in a Hong Kong season and matching the feats of Beauty Generation and Lucky Sweynesse with eight victories.

Hayes said: “He jumped with them and really controlled the race. Zac thought he could’ve waited a bit longer but he just thought he’d put it out of the question and he did – it was just wonderful.

“Even Zac’s starting to acknowledge the horse’s ability now. It took a while but he’s starting to say he’s quite special and he really is. He runs those times with ease. The way he looks and the way he’s behaving, he is improving his manners – clearly his ability has been there the whole time.

“He’s developing into a more foolproof horse. Today, he took the sit. He doesn’t have to lead – he’s alright with a sit and he’s alright leading, so he’s a beauty.

“This was a stepping stone because it was a handicap and he had to give five pounds away but the (Chairman’s Sprint Prize) is set weights and that’s his grand final. It’s what he’s been set for the whole year and if he achieves it, it would be the perfect season.”

Back in action after suffering a foot injury on 9 February, Purton took riding honours with a treble, also triumphing atop Jamie Richards-trained La Forza in the Class 3 Harlech Handicap (1000m) and Benno Yung’s Another World in the Class 3 Lugard Handicap (1400m).

Fast Network continued an excellent season with a gaping four-length victory in the Class 2 Barker Handicap (1200m), slotting his fifth win from 10 starts for Dennis Yip. Ridden patiently by Hugh Bowman, the Wrote four-year-old scythed through the field to earn a PPG Bonus of HK$1 million as well as the HK$1.59 million winners’ purse. Wrote snared a double when South Star won the Pollock Handicap (1400m) for Frankie Lor and Andrea Atzeni.

Ricky Yiu notched his sixth winner of the month when Mighty Strength landed the Class 4 Severn Handicap (2000m) under Matthew Poon before Cody Mo-trained Jumbo Treasure led throughout under Derek Leung to claim the first section of the Class 4 Plantation Handicap (1200m).

Leung sealed a double when Yung’s Aeris Nova won the Class 3 Homestead Handicap (1200m). Justify colt, Aeris Nova pipped Crossborderpegasus in the last stride to earn a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million.

Jimmy Ting successfully unveiled promising talent Little Paradise who fought bravely to clinch the second section of the Class 4 Plantation Handicap (1200m) under Luke Ferraris. By Toronado, the three-year-old had impressed in trials and, after being driven to the front by Ferraris from barrier 13, showed determination to score.

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (2 April).