The latest edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings has once again highlighted the strength of Hong Kong racing, with locally trained champions occupying the top two positions in the March standings released on Thursday, 12 March.
Leading the list is the outstanding sprinter Ka Ying Rising, trained by David Hayes, who retains his position as the world’s top-rated horse in training with an international mark of 128. Close behind is stable star Romantic Warrior, prepared by Danny Shum, ranked second with a rating of 124.
Japan’s formidable dirt performer Forever Young, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, sits third on 123. The veteran Royal Champion, conditioned by Karl Burke, occupies fourth with a rating of 122, while American contender Nysos from the yard of Bob Baffert completes the top five on 121.
Ka Ying Rising Leads the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings After Record Run
Few horses in recent Hong Kong memory have matched the relentless consistency of Ka Ying Rising. Racing for the Ka Ying Syndicate, the five-year-old set a new benchmark for locally trained runners when securing his 18th consecutive victory in the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup over 1400 metres on 22 February.
That performance extended his tally to eight Group 1 wins and marked his sixth success of the current campaign, further strengthening his position atop the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.
Meanwhile, Romantic Warrior, owned by Peter Lau, continued to enhance an already illustrious career when producing a dominant display in the Group 1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup over 2000 metres on 1 March. The victory delivered a remarkable 13th Group 1 triumph for the eight-year-old, setting yet another milestone in his storied career.
Both champions are now expected to remain on home soil as they pursue further major targets during the Hong Kong season.
Ka Ying Rising is set to continue his campaign in the Group 2 Sprint Cup over 1200 metres at Sha Tin Racecourse on Easter Monday, 6 April, where he will attempt to extend his extraordinary winning streak to 19.
Later in the spring, he will bid to retain his title in the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize.
For Romantic Warrior, attention turns to the prestigious Champions & Chater Cup, scheduled for 24 May over 2400 metres. Victory there would see the star performer complete the coveted Hong Kong Triple Crown.
Hong Kong’s influence extends beyond the top two positions in the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. The region has four representatives inside the top 20, underlining the depth of elite talent in its racing ranks.
Former champion sprinter Lucky Sweynesse, trained by Manfred Man, holds a joint-11th position with a rating of 118. Rising star Helios Express, from the stable of John Size, is placed joint-15th on 117.
Together, these results underline Hong Kong’s continuing prominence on the global stage as the season unfolds.
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