Ka Ying Rising will take another confident step toward the Ka Ying Rising Hong Kong International Races challenge after pleasing trainer David Hayes in his final fast turf workout at Sha Tin, where several local runners will continue preparations ahead of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on 14 December.
The world’s top-rated sprinter will attempt to equal Golden Sixty’s run of 16 consecutive victories when he contests the HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) next week. Silent Witness’ record of 17 remains the benchmark for a Hong Kong, China-trained horse, but Hayes will approach the coming assignment with renewed optimism following Wednesday morning’s (3 December) sharp gallop.
Hayes will express confidence after the five-time Group 1 winner completes his final 400 metres in 21.6 seconds under Zac Purton, who will partner the gelding in the Sprint. The trainer will describe the work as exactly what he hopes to see in the lead-up to the feature contest.
“Zac will quicken on him, and he will say that he feels the horse is at his top. When he asks him again, he will extend strongly,” Hayes will say. “He will canter into it and then run home in 21.6. He will keep increasing his work, and I think he will comfortably break 11 seconds for the final 200 metres without being asked.”
Hayes will add that Ka Ying Rising will continue with steady work in the days ahead, noting that the gelding will still appear to be improving.
Helios Express and HKIR contenders tune up before the Ka Ying Rising Hong Kong International Races
Helios Express, runner-up to Ka Ying Rising in three Group 1 contests last season and third in another, will complete a solid barrier trial when finishing second to Packing Hermod over 1200 metres on the dirt this morning (4 December). Ridden by Hugh Bowman, he will cross the line ahead of several fellow LONGINES HKIR entrants: Raging Blizzard (fourth), Galaxy Patch (fifth), Voyage Bubble (sixth) and Ka Ying Generation (seventh). The heat will be timed in 1m 11.41s.
In the second 1200m batch, John Size’s Beauty Eternal will take the trial in 1m 09.74s, with stablemates Bundle Award finishing third and Red Lion eighth.
Public Attention will claim the third batch in 1m 10.74s, with Massive Sovereign taking fifth and Ensued eighth.
British visitor Docklands, trained by Harry Eustace, will complete light work on the dirt as he builds toward the HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m). The Mile is one of the four major features next week, along with the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) and the Sprint.
Hong Kong racing will resume at Sha Tin on Sunday (7 December), headlined by the Class 5 Ashley Handicap (1650m, dirt) at 1pm.
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