Champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising will head for a spell following his dominant performance on FWD Champions Day, with trainer David Hayes already plotting a return aimed at the Group 1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick.
The nine-time Group 1 winner extended his remarkable sequence to 20 consecutive victories with another record-breaking display in the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), clocking 1:07.10 to lower his own Sha Tin benchmark.
The performance earned Ka Ying Rising a peak local rating of 142, further cementing his status as the world’s premier sprinter.
Hayes confirmed the star galloper would now enjoy a well-earned break before attention turns to the spring.
“I could run him today (Tuesday, 28 April). He’s fantastic. He’s having a well-earned rest and we’re looking forward to next season,” Hayes said.
“He’ll go to Conghua on Wednesday. The Everest is in the front of my mind – we’re looking forward to defending the title and then, of course, the big international race here in December.”
Ka Ying Rising made history last year as the first overseas-trained winner of The Everest, which offers a prize pool of AU$20 million, with the 2026 edition scheduled for October 17 at Royal Randwick.
Hayes, currently fourth in the Hong Kong trainers’ championship with 46 wins this season, will saddle six runners at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, including Akashvani in the Class 2 Seoul Handicap (1000m).
“We just feel he goes well at the Valley and we thought we would give it a try at the minimum distance. He’ll be very strong at the end of the 1000 (metres). He’s a really honest horse and a competitor,” Hayes said.
Jockey Karis Teetan, who has ridden five winners this month, partners Spirit Of Peace in the Class 3 Busan Handicap (1200m) and is optimistic about the horse’s chances.
“He’s knocking on the door now to get his win (this season). Let’s hope we can do it on Wednesday night. I rode him a while ago – he’s actually improved a lot since then. He does try really hard. It would be nice to get a win on him,” Teetan said.
“It seems like he does come from off the speed. You would want a nice, fast-run race for him. You would think he is capable of winning in Class 3.”
Following an impressive debut win earlier this month, Nautical Force is set to step up in trip in Sunday’s Group 3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m) at Sha Tin.
“He’s run over longer distances overseas. He can stay all day this horse. You don’t find many horses who have done what he has done (win on debut),” Teetan said.
“He had a few trials and he was well prepped – Mr Size had him in good shape going towards the race, and he had no weight on his back (115lb) when he won, but the way he won, there was a bit of merit. Of course, it’s a big step but it’s a small race; a lot of horses to be respected in there but, I think, he’s the right horse to do it.”
Other runners entered for the race include Stunning Peach, Winning Wing, Gentlemen Legacy, Joy Of Spring, Fortune Boy and Romantic Thor.
Trainer Jamie Richards will also look to continue recent success with Thunder Prince in the Class 4 Korea Racing Authority Trophy Handicap (1200m) after his breakthrough victory at Happy Valley last week.
“He’s taken a fair while to get his act together. He drew barrier one and never went around a horse, but he did still do it in good fashion. He was getting down to a mark where he was, hopefully, going to do something,” Richards said.
“I’m thrilled for the owners that he was able to get a win, and I just thought that while he is in such good form, why not run him again. It’s a slightly awkward draw (eight) this week, but he’s certainly taken no harm from his win last week.”
General Redwood will also line up again after breaking through earlier this month, with jockey Angus Chung confident of another strong showing.
“We didn’t expect a lot of pace last time, so we decided to go forward. It’s not what he normally does, but we didn’t see any pace, so it was a new way to ride him and it was a success,” Chung said. “He’s going pretty well.”
Wednesday night’s nine-race meeting at Happy Valley begins at 6.40pm with the Class 5 Daejeon Handicap (1800m).
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