The Longines World’s Best Racehorse Ranking are out for March 2026 and it’s the sprinting sensation Ka Ying Rising who leads the first edition on 128.
Now with an amazing record of 18 consecutive race wins, he was first up on 25 January with a 1¼ length victory over Helios Express, on 117, in the Centenary Sprint Cup of 1200m.
Again, with regular jockey Zac Purtron in the irons for trainer David Hayes, next it was stepping up to 1400m with a 3½ lengths again over Helios Express in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup.
With 19 wins and two seconds from 21 starts Ka Ying Rising is again looking for a second consecutive victory in the $20m The Everest at Royal Randwick, that he claimed in October.
“He loves a month between runs, so we’ll probably go for the Sprint Cup of 1200m next on 6 April, said a superbly confident David Hayes, “as we don’t have to train him too hard.”
“We’ll babysit him into the Chairman’s Sprint Prize of 1200m on 26 April and hopefully we can get another clean sweep of the season again with The Everest in the middle.”
“If we can place him conservatively, we hope to have him for another couple of seasons, that’s really exciting,” David Hayes said. “He’s more composed than ever and he’s changing legs.”
“You can’t ask for much more than what he’s doing. He is breaking track records and his last three runs he would have broken the track record if Zac had let him go.”
“He jumped so well and cruised through the bend beautifully. I could tell he had the race in command as Zac went for him a bit more than he normally does, and rode to instructions.”
A 5yo bay gelding, Ka Ying Rising was undisclosed private buy from the David Hayes family-owned Lindsay Park Racing in Victoria, and unraced as Mr Express he was ‘a 3yo of the future.’
Sired by the Newmarket Handicap winner Shamexpress, who also sired the Singapore champion Lim’s Saltoro, he’s the family of Sovereign Red, Gurner’s Lane, Trichelle, Foxwood and Purple.
Also from Hong Kong, Romantic Warrior is the second highest rated horse in the world on 124 having begun 2026 by taking out the Stewards’ Cup by 1¾ lengths from Lucky Sweynesse, rated 118.
Five weeks later it was his 13th Group 1 victory in the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup of 2000m by four lengths over Ensued, again ridden by James McDonald for trainer Shun and owner Peter Lau.
An 8yo son of Acclamation from the family EP Taylor Stakes winning mare Folk Opera, he was a A$814,200 HK International Sale buy and earlier a 300,00 Gns 2019 Tattersalls October yearling.
Forever Young on 123 is ranked third following his victory in the Saudi Cup in his seasonal debut, having defeated Nysos, 121 as the fifth highest, to take the $20m event for the second time.
A 5yo half-brother to Brown Ratchet and Mon Favor, Forever Young is from Santa Ynez Stakes winner Forever Darling, and is by the Dubai Turf winner Real Steel, a ¥98m 2022 JRIH Select Yearling.
With Nysos being no stranger to the auction ring he was first a $130,000 Keeneland November foal, following as a $150,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling and a $550,000 2023 Ocala Spring 2YO.
A 5yo son of Nyquist, the only second horse to win the BC Juvenile and Kentucky Derby, and was bred in Kentucky by Susie Atkins, being the family of Glitter Woman and Political Force.
Taking fourth spot is Royal Champion on 122 who in his first start of the year defeated Facteur Cheval by 4¾ lengths in the newly promoted Gr1 Neom Turf Cup at Riyadh for trainer Kelvin Burke.
An 8yo home-bred by Shamardal from the winning Street Cry mare Emirates Queen, he’s half-brother to the Jockey Club Stakes winner Outbox and is the immediate family of the immortal Dubawi.
