Trainer David Hayes reckons the former world #1 is ‘better than ever’ as he defends his title in the Hong Kong Sprint on Sunday [Dec 14] at the annual HKIR meeting at Sha Tin
Doubters beware. A champion racehorse can make you look very foolish. That was the lesson learned in October when the Hong Kong champion Ka Ying Rising, went and conquered Sydney (with Zac Purton aboard) in the Everest.
Let’s be clear: with a A$20 million ($13.27m/£9.96m) prize fund, this is the richest turf race in the world. But although Ka Ying Rising had been the world #1 for more than half the year on Thoroughbred Racehorse Commentary’s Global Rankings, there were more than a few people who thought he was a ‘hometown hero’ who would be found out in the ultra-hot Australian sprint division.
He wasn’t. In fact, he found them out to extend his winning streak to 15. It is now 16 after another brilliant victory in his prep race for this weekend’s Hong Kong Sprint, in which he defends his title under his regular partner, the eight-time HK champion jockey Zac Purton.
David Hayes, an Australian Hall of Fame trainer now based back in Hong Kong, says travelling the acclaimed “best sprinter on the planet” to take on Australia’s best over six furlongs placed him under the most pressure he’s felt in more than 35 years.
He was astounded how many professionals – as well as the betting public, who in the end made him a lukewarm favourite – reckoned Ka Ying Rising couldn’t win.
Even local jockeys were negative when asked their view by a roving television reporter. “I think they interviewed 14 jockeys and asked if they had the choice of any horse in the Everest, who would they ride,” recalls Hayes. “Not one said ‘Ka Ying’! I found that very amusing, especially as he was 1.50 (odds on, at 1-2) at the time!”
Biggest thrill
He ended up even-money – and won by a length and a quarter. “It's certainly the biggest thrill in my life,” said Hayes at the time, adding: “It's been the longest ten days in my life!”
There is no doubt that Ka Ying Rising has silenced any critics. But why did he have them in the first place, you might well ask?
It is essentially because Hong Kong has a horse population of only 1,300, and inevitably when those at the top clash quite often, the cry goes up that the horse in question is only beating the same horses again and again.
Never mind that the Japanese have put up strong opposition over the years; in reality, Ka Ying Rising had to go abroad to pro
ve himself once and for all. Job done, you might say.
What is more, Hayes is convinced his champion is still improving which is ominous with the approaching G1 Hong Kong Sprint, back at home over six furlongs at Sha Tin on Sunday [Dec 14] – not least as he also easily won the first race on his return home a couple of weeks ago.
It’s the progress the five-year-old is still making in training that is so exciting. “He did a piece of work last week that Zac was the most impressed with … ever,” reports Hayes. “He wasn’t out to make time but he did and that final gallop after his last brilliant win suggested he’s come on from the race.
“Now he’s in exactly the same form or better than last week. So I’m very happy.”
Experienced horsemen will warn you to be cautious of a horse who works the place down as it can often be a sign that the horse has gone over the top.
So why isn’t Hayes concerned ? “No, I’m not worried, not the way he did it,” he says.
“He just did it in a nice relaxed manner. He was only working on his own and he only ran 800 metres (about 4f) in 55s, but his last furlong was 10.7secs, just stretching out beautifully.
A brillant worker who worked brilliantly
“It would concern me if he was a terrible worker and then he worked brilliantly,” he goes on. “But we are talking about a brilliant worker, who worked brilliantly. This gallop more enthused me than worried me.
“Last year, he worked on the course proper with a friend but now he does the work on his own. He’s a more experienced, mature horse.”
The general sporting public always become interested when a champion racehorse emerges but often the layman is puzzled by some of the terminology.
Hayes gives an example. “When Zac said in one interview that the horse didn’t change his legs, that got some people confused,” he says. “Horses change legs when they have to. They change to get strength on the other leg. It’s not a stupid question when people ask that.
“I try to explain it this way. It’s a bit like punching a bag – you’re punching left-handed, left-handed, and then you throw in a right cross.”
In a sense, the Ka Ying Rising story is really only just beginning. Connections are already plotting a return to Sydney, attempting a repeat win in the Everest in October 2026.
Local records
In the meantime, there are local records to be broken, longstanding achievements by past champions of Hong Kong. Ka Ying Rising’s sequence of 15 consecutive wins means he is closing in on the domestic greats.
“Our next goals are equalling Golden Sixty’s 16 consecutive wins,” says Hayes, “and then the all-time record of 17 consecutive recorded by Silent Witness.”
The trainer appears to be settling into a more relaxed approach when Ka Ying Rising runs. “I think the Everest was the most pressure I’ve even felt in my training career,” he admits.
“It was soft pressure but I didn’t want to let anybody down in Hong Kong and I wanted him to show Australia his worth. It would have been sad if he hadn’t given his true running. I think I’m feeling more relaxed now because I think he’s going better than ever.”
• Visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club website
• Read previous articles in the View From The Rail series
Two horses, one name – Steve Dennis with a sideways look at Coolmore’s past and present
‘Does the Shergar Cup have a whip problem?’ – Steve Dennis with a radical suggestion
View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires