Ka Ying Rising has no ceiling: another victory, another track record, and undisputed king of world sprinting
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The phenomenon trained by David Hayes reached 20 consecutive victories at Sha Tin and cemented his place among the greatest sprinters of all time
SHA TIN, Hong Kong (Special to Turf Diario).- There are no longer enough adjectives to describe Ka Ying Rising. The phenomenon trained by David Hayes made history once again Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse, where he shattered the 1200-meter track record yet again in winning the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (G1), cementing his status as the best sprinter in the world.
Brilliantly ridden once more by Zac Purton, the son of Shamexpress recorded his 20th consecutive victory, an almost unimaginable feat in modern racing and one that continues to elevate a legend that has already crossed borders.
The clock surrendered to him yet again: he stopped it in 1:07.10, improving upon the 1:07.12 he had set just weeks ago. Even more remarkable is the fact that Ka Ying Rising now owns six of the nine fastest times ever recorded over 1200 meters on turf at Sha Tin.
A Perfect Machine
The race began at only a moderate tempo, with stablemate Tomodachi Kokoroe (Written Tycoon) quickly taking the lead. Meanwhile, Ka Ying Rising settled in third, alongside Japanese challenger Satono Reve (Lord Kanaloa), his main rival.
But once Purton asked him to quicken inside the final 300 meters, the race was over. The champion unleashed a devastating acceleration, covering the final 400 meters in 21.52, the fastest sectional of his career. In just a few strides, he dismantled the field and crossed the wire 4 1/4 lengths clear of Satono Reve, who once again found himself facing an impossible opponent.
“It was fairly straightforward,” Purton said, still in awe of the horse beneath him. “The speed was there, he traveled comfortably, and then he just did what he’s been doing all season.”
The Australian rider particularly emphasized the champion’s acceleration: “When I let him go, he responded immediately. He needed a couple of strides to balance himself, but after that he accelerated in extraordinary fashion. Well before the wire, I already felt everything was under control.”
“He’s One of the Best I’ve Ever Seen”
If Purton spoke with admiration, Hayes could barely contain the emotion of training a horse entering historic territory.
“You feel pressure when you saddle such a heavy favorite because you fear disappointing everyone,” the trainer admitted. “But he never lets you down.”
Then came the statement that captured the magnitude of the moment: “A long time ago I thought he might be the best horse I’d ever trained. A year ago I was sure of it. And now I believe he’s one of the best horses I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Hayes also highlighted the extraordinary times and ratings the sprinter has produced during a flawless campaign in which he again swept the Hong Kong Speed Series—adding the Centenary Sprint Cup and Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup to Sunday’s triumph—earning an additional HK$5 million bonus in the process.
Ka Ying Rising became only the second horse ever to capture Hong Kong’s speed series in consecutive seasons.
The Next Target: The Everest
After completing yet another impeccable campaign, the champion will now be given a break before once again targeting The Everest, the richest turf race in the world, run each October at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Australia.
And while the future begins to open new possibilities—with some already daring to discuss attempts over longer distances—Ka Ying Rising continues doing something even harder: improving when it seemed long ago that he had already reached his limit.
