History hangs in the balance in Sunday’s Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin, where David Hayes will saddle Ka Ying Rising in pursuit of an 18th straight victory — a mark no Hong Kong-trained horse has ever reached.
The HK$13 million Group 1 feature, set for 4.35pm as Race 8, carries more than prize-money significance. For Hayes, it is an opportunity to edge past the legendary Silent Witness, whose 17-race sequence has stood as one of the great milestones of the modern era.
Ka Ying Rising has matched that figure and now stands alone on the brink.
The five-year-old has not tasted defeat since February 2024, compiling a remarkable sequence that includes seven Group 1 triumphs and championship honours as Hong Kong Champion Griffin, Hong Kong Champion Four-Year-Old, Hong Kong Champion Sprinter and, ultimately, Horse of the Year.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity,” Hayes said this week. “His gallop was good — just his usual work. He’s very much in his routine and it suits him.”
The numbers underline the dominance. Rated 138 and already the winner of HK$129.85 million, Ka Ying Rising has won 18 of 20 career starts. Only twice, during his formative campaign, has he been beaten.
Sunday will mark his sixth appearance of the current season and a return to the scene of one of last year’s defining moments. His sole attempt at 1400 metres came in this race 12 months ago, when he scored by a length and a half.
“I know he’ll run the trip,” Hayes added. “He’s better this year than he was last year. If they go too quick, he can sit second or third; if they steady it up, he can lead. Zac is uncomplicated on him.”
Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup Test Awaits Record Bid
Drawn in barrier three, Ka Ying Rising has prepared in typically methodical fashion. He stretched out comfortably on Sha Tin’s dirt in 24.2 seconds earlier in the week and followed with an easy 28.0 seconds on Friday after a barrier trial that saw him clock 1:08.03 for 1200 metres under Zac Purton.
Hayes is keenly aware of the rarity of the occasion.
“It’s a very surreal feeling in a Group 1 saddling a horse like this,” he said. “Not many trainers get to do it. I’ll be nervous — I always am — but we couldn’t be happier with him. He’s bigger, stronger and better than last year.”
Among the gelding’s streak sits an international highlight: victory in the 2025 Group 1 The Everest at Royal Randwick, a performance that confirmed his standing beyond Hong Kong shores. A return trip to Sydney later this year is already under consideration.
Nine rivals line up against him in Sunday’s Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup, all set to carry 126lb. Lucky Sweynesse and Helios Express headline the opposition, with Red Lion, Galaxy Patch, Sunlight Power, Copartner Prance, Patch Of Theta, Raging Blizzard and Packing Hermod also declared.
“Helios Express is well suited at 1400 metres,” Hayes observed. “Lucky Sweynesse is back in form. They’re good horses. But ours has been doing everything right.”
The 11-race programme at Sha Tin begins at 1pm with the Class 4 Daffodil Handicap over 1000 metres, though much of the afternoon’s attention will centre on whether Ka Ying Rising can carve his name alone into the record books in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup.
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