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Slot-holders in race to secure Hong Kong star Ka Ying Rising for 2025 The Everest as trainer David Hayes eyes TJ Smith Stakes

Hong Kong sprint superstar Ka Ying Rising should become the Australian Turf Club’s number one international equine recruit target after another stunning win at Sha Tin on Sunday night.

Ray Thomas
3 min read
November 18, 2024 - 12:30PM
Trainer David Hayes celebrate Ka Ying Rising's record-breaking victory at Sha Tin on Sunday. Pictures: HKJC
Trainer David Hayes celebrate Ka Ying Rising's record-breaking victory at Sha Tin on Sunday. Pictures: HKJC

Hong Kong sprint superstar Ka Ying Rising should become the Australian Turf Club’s number one international equine recruit target after another stunning win at Sha Tin on Sunday night.

Ka Ying Rising shattered the 1200m track record that has stood for nearly 20 years as he romped away with the Group 2 Jockey Club Sprint.

Trained by expatriate Hall of Famer David Hayes, Ka Ying Rising has now rocketed to $5 favouritism for the $20 million The TAB Everest next October.

There are already at least two Everest slot-holders who have contact with Hayes and the owners of Ka Ying Rising about a start in the world’s richest turf race.

Ka Ying Rising could be the first horse locked in for a start in the 2025 The Everest if he wins the Group 1 Hong Kong International Sprint at Sha Tin on December 8.

But ATC officials should also be looking at trying to persuade Hayes to bring Ka Ying Rising out for the Sydney autumn carnival and test the sprinter over the Everest course in the Group 1 $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Day One of The Championships on April 5.

Ka Ying Rising is an emerging champion and has the obvious Australian connection with Hayes and the sprinter’s regular jockey, Zac Purton, so he would be a huge drawcard for the Sydney autumn carnival.

• ‘He’s getting scary’: Purton seals Ka Ying Rising’s record romp with a kiss

Hayes is always keen to bring one of his horses back home to compete in Group 1 races and a TJ Smith Stakes start in early April still gives the trainer enough time to get Ka Ying Rising back to Hong Kong for the Champion’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin a month later.

Chautauqua, the champion grey sprinter from the Team Hawkes stable, won the TJ Smith Stakes-Chairman’s Sprint Prize double in 2016.

Ka Ying Rising made it eight wins (and two close seconds) from 10 starts when he won the Jockey Club Sprint easing down by more than three lengths, stopping the clock at 1m 7.43s, breaking the previous track record by 0.07s set by Sacred Kingdom in 2007.

“I knew it was a track record, so I thought I would seal it with a kiss,” said Purton who blew a kiss to the camera placed inside the track near the finish line.

“It’s getting scary now how good he’s becoming and how easily he’s doing it. It’s a nice top-up run for the big one (Hong Kong International Sprint) next month.’’

Hayes rather ominously revealed there was “plenty more to come” from Ka Ying Rising.

• Sha Tin wrap: 17-year track record falls, J-Mac lands Group 2 double

“I love looking at his action on race days – he just has that extra action. When it’s time to accelerate, when he ambles up, he really lengthens and puts races to bed really quickly. He’s a bottomless pit at the moment,’’ Hayes said.

“When you see him walking around, some of the big, established sprinters here in Hong Kong look a bit more furnished than him, so there’s plenty more to come from this horse.”

Sydney’s reigning premier jockey James McDonald rode a Group 2 double at Sha Tin including champion Romantic Warrior’s easy win in the Jockey Club Cup.

But Romantic Warrior, who is on target to defend his title in the Hong Kong International Cup in three weeks, won’t be coming to Sydney for autumn even though there are plans to “take on the world” with the super stayer.

Trainer Danny Shum said Romantic Warrior was due to be vaccinated on Monday in preparation for the Group 1 Saudi Cup (1800m) in Riyadh in February and the Group 1 Dubai World Cup (2000m) in April.

“It will be tough for him and the team not only in the next few weeks, but the next six months,” Shum said. “If he runs ‘good’ on December 8, the owner, Peter (Lau), is really keen to go (overseas). He deserves to have (a) try. It’s once-in-a-lifetime.”

McDonald has ridden Romantic Warrior to nine wins from 10 starts and described the horse as the “heavyweight champion of the world.”

“You never really get nervous on him because he’s so good. He’s an incredible horse. I love him to bits and he’s very good,” McDonald said.

“He’s come back in terrific order, he never lets you down ever and he’s just got this amazing will to win. It’s something I’ve never come across.”

THE EVEREST BETTING
1200m, Royal Randwick, October
$5 Ka Ying Rising
$9 Switzerland
$11 Bella Nipotina, Sunshine In Paris
$15 Giga Kick, Growing Empire, I Wish I Win
Market: TAB Fixed Odds

Originally published as Slot-holders in race to secure Hong Kong star Ka Ying Rising for 2025 The Everest as trainer David Hayes eyes TJ Smith Stakes

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/horse-racing/nsw-racing/slotholders-in-race-to-secure-hong-kong-star-ka-ying-rising-for-2025-the-everest-as-trainer-david-hayes-eyes-tj-smith-stakes/news-story/66e34214ed284f0308e16fdd7ab62c47