By any measure, KA YING RISING’s extraordinary performance in the G2 Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin on Monday (6 April) was the perfect prelude to FWD Champions Day on 26 April.
In shattering a track record for the fourth time at Sha Tin – three times over 1200m and once over 1400m – KA YING RISING has repeatedly proved he is clearly the world’s premier sprinter and, as incredible as it might sound, it appears he continues to get better.
I have long maintained KA YING RISING is without peer among the sprinters I have watched over a long period time, especially in Hong Kong where we have been blessed by a string of outstanding speed horses.
In full flight, KA YING RISING is pure poetry in motion, and the fact Zac was able to ease down this remarkable horse over the last 100m and still clock a record 1m 07.12s and win by four-and-a-quarter lengths was a chilling reminder of his superiority.
Both Zac and David mentioned post-race that KA YING RISING was even better suited on Monday by the strong speed set by STELLAR EXPRESS for the first 900m of the race and it was apparent that the race was over at the 300m mark when the champion sprinter cruised up to STELLAR EXPRESS and stormed clear with little perceptible urging from Zac.
It is amazing to think that KA YING RISING has now steadily lowered SACRED KINGDOM’s longstanding mark of 1m 07.50s to within fractions of becoming the first horse in the history of Hong Kong racing to post a sub-1m 07.00s gallop and appears still to be on an upward trajectory.
In posting a record-extending 19th successive win, KA YING RISING continues to thrive under David Hayes’ management for the Ka Ying Syndicate, and it is incredibly exciting for Hong Kong and global racing to have such a special talent continuing to perform at such heights.
The excitement he brought to Monday’s race meeting, along with LUCKY SWEYNESSE’s brave victory in the G2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m), sets the scene for 26 April when we will welcome a host of champion horses, trainers and jockeys from around the world to compete in three elite Group 1 races.
While KA YING RISING has undoubtedly scared off many potential overseas rivals, we are delighted with the support for our three features – the HK$24 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) and HK$30 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m).
In all, we have 13 individual Group 1 winners among the officially selected runners, including a host of Group 1 winners from overseas. Of those visiting horses, I am particularly excited to see the performances of MASQUERADE BALL, MUSEUM MILE, SOSIE and ROYAL CHAMPION as they clash with Hong Kong’s global champion ROMANTIC WARRIOR.
While all three features shape as outstanding races, the FWD QEII Cup field boasts incredible quality and depth and, although I believe ROMANTIC WARRIOR is among the premier 2000m horses in the world – especially on home turf for Danny Shum and James McDonald – this is his toughest challenge yet at home as he seeks a record-extending fourth victory in the FWD QEII Cup.
Hong Kong’s world-class horseracing returns to Happy Valley on Wednesday night (8 April) with the launch of the Happy Wednesday Racing With Rugby theme in the Beer Garden. Marking a special collaboration of two of Hong Kong’s favourite sports, racing and rugby come together under Happy Valley’s lights in celebration of the upcoming Rugby 10s and the Hong Kong Sevens tournaments.
Attendees will be entertained by the talented Phil D and his band, while also participating in games for the chance to win Hong Kong Sevens tickets and savouring fabulous food and beverages while celebrating nine highly competitive races.
Tonight’s Happy Valley meeting marks the return of Joao Moreira who, starting from this Wednesday (8 April) until the end of the season on 15 July, will ride as a retained jockey for Caspar Fownes.
With 28 meetings left until the end of the season, Joao will support Caspar in his fight for the 2025/26 trainers’ championship, which remains incredibly tight with Mark Newnham (47 wins) leading Caspar (43), David Hayes (41), Danny Shum (41) and Francis Lui (40).
A four-time Hong Kong champion jockey, Joao has an excellent chance to add to his career tally of 1,242 Hong Kong wins tonight when he partners DECISION LINK, VERMILION TEMPEST, ELEGANT LIFE, GOLDEN BRILLIANT, MONARCH COUNTY, SKY CAP, SKY VINO, PERFECT GENERAL and MIGHTY COMMANDER for Caspar.
The competitive highlight at Happy Valley tonight is the second section of the Class 3 On Lan Handicap, which is carded as Race 9 and will be run over 1200m at 10.50pm for prizemoney of HK$1.86 million.
The speed will be good with HARMONY N BLESSED going forward from gate eight under Harry Bentley along with RED SEA who has drawn gate 12. SIGHT HERMOSO will be prominent from gate five, with MEOWTH and FLYING WROTE both settling close to the lead.
SIGHT HERMOSO had been racing with great consistency at Sha Tin before he came to Happy Valley for the first time to win impressively from KING OF FIGHTERS over this distance on 11 March. Hugh Bowman takes over tonight and from a good drawn SIGHT HERMOSO is a win and place chance.
MIGHTY COMMANDER won over this course and distance three runs back and has been close-up in two subsequent runs. At his latest, he stayed on well in the straight for third behind SOVEREIGN FUND on 11 February. MIGHTY COMMANDER has been to Conghua since that run and trialed well last week in preparation for this race. Joao Moreira takes the ride and he is drawn well in gate four and is also a win and place chance.
KING OF FIGHTERS ran well when second behind SIGHT HERMOSO after being crowded at the start and finding the winner too strong. KING OF FIGHTERS is still searching for his first win in Hong Kong but has drawn well in gate three and is a place chance for Karis Teetan.
FLYING WROTE has won twice over this course and distance this season and beat MEOWTH in a close finish back on 11 February. He had excuses last start when sixth to AURIO on 18 March after blundering early in the race and can improve sharply here for Jerry Chau.
RED SEA (Zac Purton) has been placed at his two runs and, despite a wide draw, will run well while MEOWTH has been placed at this last three runs over this course and distance and is a place chance again for Alexis Badel from gate six.
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