Hong Kong’s long and decorated racing history is filled with the spectacular deeds of champions – horses, trainers and jockeys – but it is difficult to imagine a more perfect performance than that delivered by KA YING RISING in Sunday’s (22 February) G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin.
Following in the illustrious pathways of legendary contemporary champions such as ROMANTIC WARRIOR, GOLDEN SIXTY, SILENT WITNESS and many others, KA YING RISING elevated the concept of athletic excellence to unprecedented levels with a spine-tingling display of power and speed.
His effort to obliterate the Sha Tin 1400m course record in a time of 1m 19.36s – almost 0.60s inside the previous record – was simply extraordinary and, while he was encouraged to keep running to the finish by Zac Purton, there is no doubt he could have gone even faster had more pressure been applied.
I have long maintained that KA YING RISING is the best sprinter I have ever seen and, even though we have had many great sprinters in Hong Kong over the years, this horse is from a different world, and I congratulate David Hayes and the Ka Ying Syndicate for their ongoing success.
The greatest athletes – horses and humans – are able to perform at their peak on the biggest stages and last Sunday was one such occasion as KA YING RISING not only crowned a spectacular opening to the Year Of The Horse but also forged into history with a record 18th successive victory by a Hong Kong horse, edging one win clear of SILENT WITNESS’s streak.
If there was even a fleeting doubt about whether he would handle the rise to 1400m, KA YING RISING banished it with searing 400m sectionals from the 1200m to the finish line of 21.93s, 22.33s and 21.63s.
No horse has gone faster over 1200m or 1400m at Sha Tin since racing started there in 1978 and we are privileged to have such a champion – along with ROMANTIC WARRIOR and VOYAGE BUBBLE – performing in such incredible style in the Year Of The Horse.
The international media reaction to KA YING RISING’s exhilarating performance was overwhelmingly positive and this reflects tremendously on Hong Kong’s world-class racing, which is closely followed on a global basis.
This Sunday (1 March), the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) also showcases Hong Kong’s Heavenly Horses Kings with ROMANTIC WARRIOR attempting to win the Triple Crown and VOYAGE BUBBLE trying to defend his Gold Cup win.
Furthermore, the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) features the rising star LITTLE PARADISE, who some form experts are comparing with the champion GOLDEN SIXTY, along with other emerging stars such as NUMBERS, SAGACIOUS LIFE, INFINITE RESOLVE and INVINCIBLE IBIS.
We are blessed to have these sporting highlights during this short period of time, and it strengthens our Year Of The Horse celebrations.
At Happy Valley tonight (25 February), our traditional Chinese New Year festivities continue in the world-famous Beer Garden when attendees can experience a spectacular LED lion dance that showers the crowd with blessings of extra fortune.
Set against a backdrop of glowing red lanterns and cherry blossom displays, patrons can also test their golfing skills at the LIV Mini Golf Activation for the chance to win prizes, including discounted tickets for LIV Golf Hong Kong 2026, while entertainment will be led by international vocal and dance sensation Rechelle Mansour and a troupe of festive dancers.
Apart from Rechelle’s incredible entertainment, attendees can indulge in fabulous, curated food and beverages while watching world-class racing as part of the Year Of The Horse celebrations.
The Class 2 Magazine Gap Handicap, which is carded as Race 3, will be run over 1800m at 7.40pm with prizemoney of HK$3.12 million.
The pace will be good to slow with SKY HEART likely to lead from gate two. SWORD POINT will be prominent along with SOLEIL FIGHTER, who will hold a forward position from his rails draw. AWESOME FLUKE should also settle close to the leading group.
HUGE WAVE has raced consistently this season with three minor placings at his last three outings at Happy Valley. Last start, he settled near the rear of the field and made good ground in the straight to finish third to AWESOME FLUKE and SOLEIL FIGHTER over 1650m on 4 February. HUGE WAVE is a win and place chance for Alexis Badel.
AWESOME FLUKE posted his second win of the season at the course when he sat behind the leader NEW FOREST in a solidly run race and took the lead at the top of the straight and was kept going in the run to the line by Andrea Atzeni to safely hold off SOLEIL FIGHTER and HUGE WAVE. AWESOME FLUKE has been at Conghua since and meets a similar field. He is also a winning chance, with Andrea taking the ride again.
SOLEIL FIGHTER continues to race in good form and, following his fighting second to AWESOME FLUKE, stayed on fairly to finish sixth to STUNNING PEACH over 1600m at Sha Tin on 19 February. SOLEIL FIGHTER has drawn the rails and is a place chance for Hugh Bowman, who has ridden the horse twice before and been placed on both occasions.
CALIFORNIATOTALITY (Brenton Avdulla) is resuming and will improve with the run and Caspar Fownes’ two runners SKY HEART (Ellis Wong) and JUMBO LEGEND (Karis Teetan) can run well with their light weights.
The first section of the Class 3 Wan Chai Gap Handicap is carded as Race 8 and will be run over 1200m at 10.15pm with prizemoney of HK$1.86 million.
This is an outstanding race with four last-start winners engaged and the pace will be good with CANDLELIGHT DINNER likely to lead from gate 10, with HARMONY N BLESSED (Ellis Wong) also going forward from barrier 12. IGOR STRAVINSKY and STRAIGHT TO GLORY will be prominent from inside draws.
GREATER BAE impressed when sprinting quickly in the straight to easily beat REFUSETOBEENGLISH over this course and distance on 28 January, winning with something in hand and, after spending time in Conghua since, GREATER BAE is my win and place selection for Zac Purton.
SOVEREIGN FUND was having his first start for trainer Brent Crawford when he proved too strong for SPORTS LEGEND and MIGHTY COMMANDER over this course and distance on 11 February. SOVEREIGN FUND has drawn well in gate five for Karis Teetan and is a place chance.
STRAIGHT TO GLORY is chasing a winning hat trick after scoring twice in Class 4 over this course and distance in January. He steps up in class here but has drawn well in gate two and is a place chance for Derek Leung.
CANDLELIGHT DINNER has won his last two starts at Happy Valley, but both over 1000m, but the wide draw makes his challenge more difficult extending to 1200m with James Orman taking the ride and is a place chance along with PRESTIGE ALWAYS (Harry Bentley), MY DAY MY WAY (Lyle Hewitson) and SPIRIT OF PEACE (Maxime Guyon).
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