Ka Ying Rising extended his historic winning streak to 19 after capturing the Sprint Cup

The sensational sprinter shattered the Sha Tin 1200-meter track record for the third time, stopping the clock in a blistering 1:07.12 while carrying 128 pounds

Zac Purton and Ka Ying Rising salute the Sha Tin crowd / HKJC

There are moments when racing journalism runs out of adjectives and must simply surrender to the authority of the numbers. What Ka Ying Rising accomplished this Monday on the Sha Tin turf was not merely winning a race; it was a defiance of the history books. The David Hayes trainee not only extended his streak to 19 consecutive victories but stopped the clock in 1:07.12 for the 1200 meters, breaking his own track record for the third time and leaving the impression that had Zac Purton not "put him in neutral" in the final 100 meters, the mark would have been otherworldly.

"He's right up there with his best performances," said a nearly stunned Purton. It’s easy to see why. The 5-year-old, currently the highest-rated horse in the world for 2026, made a mockery of a headwind and the 5-pound weight concession he gave to his rivals. It was an exercise in pure power: after tracking Stellar Express (Zoustar), he clicked off fractions of :10.75 and :10.72 between the 800m and 400m, before finishing with an electric :10.45 rush that scattered the field like maidens.

The ease with which the son of Shamexpress dismissed Helios Express (Toronado) by 4 1/4 lengths—a high-quality opponent in his own right—speaks to a horse that has reached total maturity. Purton’s analysis was surgical: "His acceleration today was the best I’ve felt from him yet." Seeing him draw nearly 10 lengths clear before his rider decided the rest had been punished enough is the defining image of a campaign that now boasts 20 wins from 22 starts.

For trainer David Hayes, managing this phenomenon is the pinnacle of a season that seems to have no ceiling. After smashing the clock in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (G1) over 1400 meters in February, Ka Ying Rising returned to the six-furlong trip to confirm his reign knows no boundaries of distance or competition.

Monday’s Sprint Cup (G2) marked the fourth time the bay has established a track record at Sha Tin. In a circuit as competitive as Hong Kong, where margins are usually razor-thin, for a horse to win 19 straight while continually lowering his own times is an event that transcends Eastern borders. Ka Ying Rising is no longer racing against others; he is racing against his own shadow and world racing history. With major international challenges ahead, the racing world wonders how far this white-legged whirlwind will go. For now, the clock remains his greatest ally and favorite victim. At Sha Tin, the crown has only one owner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZrL4IPTbuY