David Hayes stood quietly at the rail, arms folded, as Ka Ying Rising glided across the Sha Tin dirt this morning. The Hong Kong Horse of the Year barely seemed to touch the ground, and when Zac Purton eased him past the post 14¼ lengths clear in 59.26s, a ripple of excitement swept through the watching crowd. The reigning sprint king is back — and his path to history begins now.
A Calm Return, A Bigger Dream
Friday’s trial was Ka Ying Rising’s first public appearance since sealing an unbeaten eight-race 2024/25 season, and the five-year-old looked as polished as ever. Sitting motionless in the saddle, Purton allowed the gelding to coast through the 1050m heat, using just enough gas to remind everyone why he remains Hong Kong’s most electrifying sprinter.
“You’d like to think he’s going to do it easily against those horses,” Purton said, patting the gelding’s neck afterward. “It’s good to have him back out there, just going through his routine. He gets on the wrong leg sometimes — it frustrates me — but he floats through his work. Race day is when it matters.”
Hayes, too, was satisfied but cautious. “This was just the first step. He’s not fully fit yet, and that’s fine — we wanted to see him happy and moving freely. He’ll improve again before the Chief Executive’s Cup. Everything’s building towards that, and beyond.”
Defending the Cup Before Taking on the World
Ka Ying Rising’s immediate target is the HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) on 7 September, where he will bid for back-to-back wins in Hong Kong’s season-opening feature.
After that comes the biggest challenge of his glittering career: a historic first appearance overseas in the AU$20 million G1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on 18 October. With HK$65.97 million in earnings, a 12-race winning streak, and four Group 1 titles — including the 2024 Hong Kong Sprint, 2025 Centenary Sprint Cup, 2025 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup, and 2025 Chairman’s Sprint Prize — Ka Ying Rising heads to Sydney as one of the headline acts.
He will trial again at Sha Tin on 30 August before shipping to Australia, where Group 1 winners Private Harry, Briasa, and Jimmysstar also await.
Rivals Tune Up for the Season Ahead
It wasn’t just Ka Ying Rising attracting attention on Friday. Champion sprinter Lucky Sweynesse also stepped out, completing his 1200m dirt trial in 1m 09.29s with blinkers applied under jockey Derek Leung for trainer Manfred Man.
“He’s a bit heavy right now, but that’s expected,” Leung admitted. “His action’s good, and he’ll tighten up from this.” Lucky Sweynesse is on course for Japan’s G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) on 28 September, a race famously won by Hong Kong’s Silent Witness (2005) and Ultra Fantasy (2010).
Elsewhere, Francis Lui’s Chancheng Glory and Manfred Man’s Self Improvement completed their trials ahead of their 7 September raids in Seoul. The pair will contest the G3 Korea Cup (1800m, sand) and G3 Korea Sprint (1200m, sand) respectively, where victory offers automatic qualification for the 2025 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar.
Ka Ying Rising Ready to Ignite Sha Tin and Beyond
The anticipation around Ka Ying Rising’s return is palpable. Hayes’ stable star has already conquered Hong Kong, but Sydney represents a chance to cement his legacy on the world stage. With his unbeaten streak, dazzling speed, and an upcoming bid at the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap, the five-year-old looks primed to make headlines at home and abroad.
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