They tried to beat him in December and tried again April but the world’s best sprinter did it again to claim Hong Kong’s Triple Crown.
Ka Ying Rising started in the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at the prohibitive odds of $1 and if you could not find value in the price, you could in the theatre that good horses like this deliver.
At just four-years-old, Ka Ying Rising notched his 13th win in 15 starts with targets like The Everest and another tilt at the rich treble again next season.
“Every time he comes out here he does something special,” jockey Zac Purton said.
“He’s just getting better and better. What more can you say?”
Winning by 2¼-lengths and eased down on the line after settling off the leaders then showing a blistering turn-of-foot in the Sha Tin straight, the gelding again defeated Japanese raider Satono Reve and local opponent Helios Express to replicate the trifecta from the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) four months earlier when one-length separated them.
Pre-race, David Hayes said that the thought that Ka Ying Rising had improved four or five lengths from then and that next season could be the ‘golden year’.
“He had the perfect prep and the perfect season,” Hayes said.
“Zac said that if they were going slow he’d lead and if they were going fast he’d sit off them.
“He has shown that versatility.”
“He probably got to the front and stargazed today but he got the job done.”
Winning by 2¼-lengths and eased down on the line after settling off the leaders then showing a blistering turn-of-foot in the Sha Tin straight, the gelding again defeated Japanese raider Satono Reve and local opponent Helios Express to replicate the trifecta from the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) four months earlier when one-length separated them.
“He’s only four and I think we’ve got a lot to look forward to.”
Joao Moreira steered Satono Brave to second placing while the John Size-trained Helios Express franked the top-ranking form from the international meeting.
“The second horse is probably the second-best sprinter in the world at the moment and Helios Express, what a great horse he’s been this year and I think he’d be a multiple group one winner if he was back in Australia.”
