Zac Purton and David Hayes were left searching for fitting words after Ka Ying Rising produced another performance of rare authority to capture the Group 2 Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin on 6 April, stretching his extraordinary winning sequence to 19.
In testing conditions, with a strong headwind sweeping down the back straight, the five-year-old delivered a display that combined control, speed and sheer dominance. Carrying 128lb and conceding weight to all six rivals, Ka Ying Rising travelled comfortably before surging clear to defeat Helios Express by four and a quarter lengths, with Raging Blizzard in third.
The winning time of 1m 07.12s marked yet another milestone — the third occasion he has broken the Sha Tin 1200m record and his fourth track record overall — underlining a level of consistency rarely seen at the top level.
Settled just behind the pace set by Stellar Express, Ka Ying Rising travelled strongly throughout before quickening decisively approaching the home turn. His acceleration between the 400m and 300m proved decisive, opening up a commanding lead in a matter of strides. From there, Purton was able to ease him down late, the result never in doubt.
“It’s right up there,” Purton said. “The conditions weren’t easy, especially with the wind. Horses that were exposed really felt it, and he had to deal with that as well as the weight and the drop back in distance. But he handled everything.”
The rider also pointed to the gelding’s turn of foot as the standout feature of the performance, suggesting it may have been the sharpest acceleration he has produced to date.
Trainer David Hayes believes the horse’s continued progression is closely tied to his growing maturity.
“He’s just doing everything right now,” Hayes said. “Around the gates, before the race — he’s more relaxed and more professional. That’s making a difference.”
The victory follows a sequence of high-class performances this season and keeps alive the prospect of another clean sweep of Hong Kong’s premier sprint series. With his unbeaten run stretching back to early 2024, Ka Ying Rising continues to set a standard few can approach.
Elsewhere on the card, Mark Newnham strengthened his position at the top of the trainers’ standings with a double, taking his season tally to 47 winners. Thousand Spirit struck in the Class 4 Peel Handicap, while Aerodynamics added further success later on the programme.
Andrea Atzeni maintained his good form with a win aboard Zouper Fellow, while Douglas Whyte also enjoyed a productive afternoon, combining with apprentice Nichola Yuen to land a notable victory with Fast Responder.
There were further wins for Big Return, Lucky Man, Mighty Masts and Mugen, the latter bouncing back after a lengthy spell without success.
Attention now turns to Happy Valley on 8 April, but the lasting image from Sha Tin will be that of Ka Ying Rising powering clear once more — a sprinter operating at a level that continues to redefine expectations.
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