David Hayes is taking nothing for granted ahead of Sunday’s Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin Racecourse , even as his star sprinter Ka Ying Rising lines up as the dominant force in Hong Kong’s premier 1200-metre contest.
The seasoned trainer believes the biggest threats will come from a familiar pair: Japanese challenger Satono Reve and the ultra-consistent local Helios Express, both of whom have tested the champion before but are yet to topple him.
Fresh from victory in the Group 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, Satono Reve arrives in strong form and will be partnered by Joao Moreira. Hayes was quick to underline the gelding’s quality despite his past defeats against Ka Ying Rising.
“Satono Reve is very impressive,” Hayes said. “He is a champion and always has to be respected. His negative is that he has tried three times and hasn’t been able to beat him, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t come back at his best. He’s probably in the best form he has been since coming here.”
Helios Express, trained by John Size and to be ridden again by Hugh Bowman, has built a reputation for consistency, finishing second to Ka Ying Rising on eight occasions. Hayes acknowledged the gelding’s ability while also recognising the challenge he faces in this era.
“He is a very, very good horse,” Hayes said. “Helios is a horse that puts his best run up every time and has almost broken track records doing it, and unfortunately, he is in a generation where there is a freak.”
Despite the calibre of opposition, Hayes expressed full confidence in his stable star’s adaptability. Neither the barrier draw, the size of the field nor underfoot conditions are expected to hinder Ka Ying Rising’s performance.
“He is mentally very good now, and he overcomes barriers,” Hayes said. “If it is yielding, I won’t be concerned. If it is wet, he’ll still run a very strong time. If it’s dry, he’ll go even quicker.”
The trainer also downplayed any focus on record-breaking, noting that race tempo would ultimately dictate whether the clock is threatened.
“The only way he’ll break the record is the tempo,” he said. “If it’s fast, he’ll break it. If it’s slow, he won’t. There won’t be any instructions to chase records.”
Beyond Sunday’s feature, Hayes confirmed that Ka Ying Rising’s programme will mirror last season, including a break at Conghua before building towards major international targets later in the year.
Bowman, meanwhile, remains pragmatic about the challenge aboard Helios Express but is hopeful his mount can again produce a telling finish.
“It is what it is and we’ll go out and do our best,” Bowman said. “Helios has a certain pattern and a devastating finish if ridden for it. That’s what we’ll aim to do.”
Sunday’s FWD Champions Day meeting features 11 races, with the programme beginning at 12.30pm. The Chairman’s Sprint Prize stands as one of the highlights of the card, drawing elite sprinters from across the region.
The Ka Ying Rising Chairman’s Sprint Prize narrative once again centres on whether any rival can bridge the gap to a horse operating at an exceptional level.
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