Champion speedster Ka Ying Rising extended his winning streak in Sunday’s Champions Sprint in Hong Kong and this Saturday his old travelling companion will be looking to start another of his own.
Ka Ying Cheer is out to bounce back after his first Australian defeat when he runs at Bendigo.
The former Hong Kong sprinter has been entered for two benchmark 84 events, one over 1100m and another over 1300m, and whichever he contests will be his first start since finishing sixth at Caulfield on April 11, which ended a three-race winning streak.
After claiming an 1100m Class 1 at Pakenham on February 5 at his Aussie debut, the six-year-old won a benchmark 66 over 1100m at Seymour on February 20 before victory in a 1200m benchmark 78 at Caulfield on March 21.
Ka Ying Cheer is owned by Leung Shek-Kong, who also races Ka Ying Rising, and he kept the world’s best sprinter company in quarantine in the lead-up to last year’s The Everest before remaining in Australia and taking up residence at Lindsay Park.
Ben Hayes said he’s been a great addition to his stable, which he operates in partnership with brothers Will and JD, and while conscious the bar has been raised during his initial Australian campaign he said Saturday’s race is a suitable option for this stage of the preparation.
“I think he will bounce back,” Hayes said.
“He managed to win three in a row and kind of just got to his grade, but he’s working nicely going into it.
“He didn’t run badly (last start), but he just needs things to go right.
“He’s deep into his prep now and he has won three in a row and he’s up to good city class races. That’s probably where he’s at from now on.”
Ka Ying Cheer has two stablemates entered for each of his events with Stoli Bolli also entered for both, while another ex-Hong Kong galloper, Nervous Witness, is in the 1100m and Laa De Shaa a chance to run in the 1300m.
The Bendigo meeting is headlined by the Golden Mile (1600m), which counts Von Hauke, Osipenko and Hughes among the entries, and Bendigo Guineas, which are both $200,000 Listed events.
