Ka Ying Rising ready to confirm he is the world’s best in Hong Kong Sprint but David Hayes just wants that Group 1 victory

David Hayes is buzzing with anticipation as Ka Ying Rising prepares for his coronation as the world’s best sprinter in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint on Sunday.

Ka Ying Rising is a short-priced favourite for Sunday’s Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint. Picture: HKJC

David Hayes says he is in a position to better appreciate the feats of boom sprinter Ka Ying Rising, declaring no horse has ever shown him more promise than him after 10 starts ahead of Sunday’s Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint.

The Hall Of Fame trainer enjoyed Better Loosen Up at the start of his career, but said the fact Ka Ying Rising has come along during his second stint in Hong Kong means he is able to better take it all in.

Ka Ying Rising has drawn comparisons to the likes of Black Caviar and Silent Witness, despite being beaten twice in his career to date, which Hayes said is amazing in itself given he is yet to race at Group 1 level.

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“After 10 starts, no horse has shown me more than this guy,” Hayes told Racenet.

“We are talking this big about the horse when he hasn’t even started in a Group 1 race yet, the expectations on him are incredible.

World's Best Sprinter!? 🌏

Ka Ying Rising breaks Sacred Kingdom's 1200m record (1m 07.50s) set in 2007 at Sha Tin with plenty in hand, clocking an untested 1m 07.43s... @zpurton 🚀#LoveRacing | #HKracingpic.twitter.com/f1Ne1GdSGE

— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) November 17, 2024

“He will probably start $1.20 on Sunday.

“There’s all these big wraps, but I just want to knock off the Group 1 with him first.

“He’s going to get those comparisons with all the good horses from up here because he broke the track record under a hold last start.

“There’s been a lot of good Group 1 sprinters up here, so it’s no mean feat.”

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After enduring a torrid run when returning to Hong Kong in 2020, Hayes has re-established himself at Sha Tin and said Ka Ying Rising can put the icing on top of a stellar career if he continues on his incredible trajectory.

“He could be the horse of a lifetime, which is saying a lot because I had Better Loosen Up at the start of my career, now I have this guy,” he said.

“I think it makes me appreciate it even more at this end of my career because of all the horses I have had before him.

David Hayes is looking to tick the Group 1 box with Ka Ying Rising. Picture: Michael Klein

“He was bought as a middle distance horse who had won a couple of trials impressively.

“You always hope you get a Group 1 horse when you buy them, but they do surprise you when they’re out of the box like that.

“If they knew it was Ka Ying Rising, he would never have been sold.”

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As a $1.20 favourite with fixed-odds bookmakers, many are expecting Ka Ying Rising to be anointed the world’s best sprinter on Sunday afternoon, however Hayes just wants to see him tick the Group 1 box first.

“There’s a lot of racing after Sunday, so I just want to win it, I do know if nothing goes wrong, he will be running a very fast time,” he said.

Originally published as Ka Ying Rising ready to confirm he is the world’s best in Hong Kong Sprint but David Hayes just wants that Group 1 victory