With less than a month until FWD Champions Day on 27 April, KA YING RISING provided the perfect prelude ahead of the HK$22 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) with another incredible performance at Sha Tin on Sunday (30 March).
In posting his 11th win in a row, KA YING RISING produced one of the softest victories of his brilliant career so far in the HK$5.35 million Sprint Cup (1200m) with a three-length victory over HELIOS EXPRESS, who is a high-class sprinter in his own right, having finished fifth five times this season to KA YING RISING.
As the world’s highest-rated sprinter, KA YING RISING continues to excel for David Hayes and Zac Purton and his acceleration from the 400m to the 200m – even with five more pounds than the opposition last weekend – was simply outstanding with a split of 10.54s and an overall final 400m sectional of 21.88s.
As per David’s usual practice, KA YING RISING will head back to Conghua this week to prepare for his next assignment to freshen up from his latest run before having a lead-up trial ahead of FWD Champions Day.
KA YING RISING has thrived at Conghua with its relaxed environment and world-class facilities and clearly benefits from his regular visits to the Mainland showpiece.
With the field selection process for the FWD Champions Day still underway, I look forward to see which of the high-class international sprinters will ultimately throw down the gauntlet to KA YING RISING who, with 11 wins in a row, has built the third-longest winning streak in Hong Kong behind SILENT WITNESS (17) and GOLDEN SIXTY (16).
Straight Arron has always been regarded as one of Hong Kong’s more talented middle-distance horses with Group 2 success and more than creditable efforts at Group 1 and his victory in the HK$5.35 million G2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) was deserved reward for Ricky Yiu and Matthew Poon.
Ricky has enjoyed wonderful success throughout his training career, predominantly with sprinters, but the emergence of VOYAGE BUBBLE, a four-time Group 1 winner from 1600m to 2000m, has also shown Ricky’s ability with stayers.
Ricky’s effort to succeed with STRAIGHT ARRON is both a credit to him and Matthew, who enjoyed his first Group 2 victory in Hong Kong with a wonderful ride along the fence. While Matthew deserves recognition for his brilliant ride, GALAXY PATCH was most unlucky not to win, having been held up at a vital stage in the straight under Zac Purton and then having to change course before being beaten by only a head.
As Ricky plots a path to FWD Champions Day with both VOYAGE BUBBLE and STRAIGHT ARRON, our attention this week turns to Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday (5 April) with the appearance of Hong Kong’s global champion ROMANTIC WARRIOR, HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE and SWORD POINT.
By all reports, ROMANTIC WARRIOR has adapted well to Meydan’s turf since his gallant second on the dirt in the Saudi Cup (1800m) to the world’s highest-rated horse FOREVER YOUNG on 22 February and Hong Kong racing history could be made this weekend if ROMANTIC WARRIOR becomes the first Hong Kong horse to win 11 Group 1 races and move one clear of GOLDEN SIXTY (10).
Chasing his fourth Group 1 in a foreign jurisdiction, ROMANTIC WARRIOR runs in the G1 Dubai Turf (1800m), while HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE will attempt to emulate CALIFORNIA SPANGLE’s famous victory last year in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) and SWORD POINT contests the G2 Godolphin Mile (1600m, dirt).
I wish all our connections the very best of luck.
At Happy Valley tonight (2 April), the Beer Garden will host the first of our Neon Nights Japan Nights with a celebration of Japan’s rich and diverse culture with Japanese food delicacies, Sake, Kirin beer and pop music. There will also be a competition with the chance to win a HK$8,000 travel voucher to Japan.
On the track, the Class 3 Kyoto Handicap is carded as Race 9 and will be run over 1200m at 10.50pm with prizemoney of HK$1,860,000.
The pace will be good with HAPPY FAT CAT (Antoine Hamelin) going forward in search of the lead from gate nine. VICTORY SKY (Derek Leung) will be prominent from gate one, with BEAUTY INFINITY (Richard Kingscote) and ROMANTIC SON (Harry Bentley) also looking to settle in the leading group. KING OF FIGHTERS (Brenton Avdulla) will also be prominent.
KING OF FIGHTERS has run twice over this course and distance, finishing second both times. He beat all but BEAUTY DESTINY on 19 February and then chased hard in the last 150m but couldn’t quite get past HAPPY FAT CAT on 12 March. KING OF FIGHTERS is a win and place chance.
VIEW OF THE WORLD (Zac Purton) won successive races here beating GLORY B in December and then stepped up in class and beat A AMERIC TE SPECSO on 22 January. He backed up two weeks later and was disappointing behind GALLANT VALOUR when he drew wide and went back, making ground in the straight. VIEW OF THE WORLD has been in Conghua since and, from gate six, is also a win and place chance.
BEAUTY INFINITY was rewarded for his consistency when he jumped away quickly and then took a sit behind the leading pair, before taking the lead passing the 150m, holding on to beat LUCKY EIGHT on 12 March. BEAUTY INFINITY is drawn to get the run of the race from gate three and is a place chance.
ROMANTIC SON has drawn barrier 10 but is a place chance on the strength of his last start win over this course and distance, when he beat BEAUTY INFINITY and NORDIC DRAGON (Hugh Bowman). He is a place chance along with HAPPY FAT CAT (Antoine Hamelin), FIND MY LOVE (James Orman), NORDIC DRAGON, KAHOLO ANGEL (Andrea Atzeni) and VICTORY SKY.
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