Ka Ying Rising will return to Hong Kong following his narrow defeat in the G1 The Everest at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Saturday, 17 October, with trainer David Hayes confident the champion sprinter can regain his winning form during the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races campaign.
The world’s top-rated horse is scheduled to leave Sydney on Monday, 19 October, before entering quarantine at Sha Tin for two weeks. His preparation will then turn towards the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint over 1200 metres on 22 November, a key step towards his principal objective of securing a third victory in the HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint on 13 December.
Ka Ying Rising Begins Hong Kong Preparation
Hayes confirmed that Ka Ying Rising had recovered well from his Australian assignment, despite the disappointment of seeing his remarkable winning sequence come to an end.
The trainer plans to give the sprinter a quiet first week in quarantine, with light exercise consisting of trotting and cantering in the dressage ring. Training will increase during the second week, when Ka Ying Rising is expected to return to the track before moving back to Hayes’ stables.
Although the defeat was difficult to accept, Hayes remains encouraged by the performance and believes the result could have been different with a little more distance.
Ka Ying Rising had established himself as one of the most dominant sprinters in Hong Kong racing, winning 21 consecutive races before his Australian campaign ended that extraordinary run.
Narrow Defeat Ends Record Winning Sequence
Tempted emerged victorious in The Everest after an accomplished ride from Chad Schofield, edging out Ka Ying Rising by half a neck on a yielding track.
The Hong Kong champion covered additional ground during the 1200-metre contest and appeared to race inconsistently at different stages. Nevertheless, the performance reinforced his ability to remain competitive against leading international sprinters, even when conditions and circumstances do not fall in his favour.
Hayes acknowledged that the result was disappointing but stressed that the horse had shown plenty of determination throughout the race. With his recovery progressing well, attention has now shifted towards the upcoming Hong Kong campaign.
The immediate priority will be to restore his routine at Sha Tin and ensure he is ready for the November preparatory race. The Jockey Club Sprint will provide an important opportunity to sharpen his condition before the major December assignment.
Hong Kong Sprint Remains the Main Target
Ka Ying Rising’s season will be built around two major objectives: the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint on 13 December and the HK$24 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize over 1200 metres on 25 April.
A third Hong Kong Sprint victory would further strengthen his standing among the leading sprinters of the modern era. The Chairman’s Sprint Prize will offer another significant opportunity later in the season, giving the connections a clear long-term programme following the Australian campaign.
For now, the focus remains on a smooth return to Hong Kong, a controlled period of recovery and a gradual resumption of training. The defeat at Randwick may have ended a remarkable winning run, but Ka Ying Rising’s season is far from over.
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