Racing

Hong Kong stars Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior dominate LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings

HKJC

— 2 min read
Hong Kong stars Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior dominate LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings
Ka Ying Rising remains the world’s highest-rated horse in training with a rating of 128 in the March edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. Photo: Hong Kong Jockey Club

Hong Kong-trained horses dominate the March edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, which were released on Thursday, 12 March, occupying the top two spots.

 David Hayes-trained Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) maintained his position as the top-rated horse in training with an international rating of 128, while Danny Shum’s Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) was ranked second with a rating of 124.

 Japan’s dirt giant Forever Young (Real Steel), trained by Yoshito Yahagi, was third with a rating of 123, while the Karl Burke-trained eight-year-old Royal Champion (Street Cry) was fourth, rated 122. From the United States of America, Bob Baffert charge Nysos (Nyquist) rounded out the top five of the March list, rated 121.

 Ka Ying Rising, raced by the Ka Ying Syndicate, broke the record for consecutive wins by a Hong Kong-trained horse when he added an 18th straight triumph to his already glittering CV with victory in the Gr.1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) on 22 February. It was the five-year-old’s eighth Group One success and sixth win this season.

 Romantic Warrior was at his peerless best when the eight-year-old, owned by Peter Lau, blitzed the field to claim a record-extending 13th Group One victory in the Gr.1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) on 1 March.

 Both horses are focused on domestic glory for the remainder of this season: Ka Ying Rising is aiming to retain his Hong Kong Speed Series honours with victory in April’s Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), while the world’s highest-earning horse Romantic Warrior is looking to complete the Triple Crown with a win in the Gr.1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) on 24 May.

 Ka Ying Rising next races in Easter Monday’s (6 April) Gr.2 Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin when he goes for a 19th win in succession.

 Hong Kong boasts four entries in the top 20 of the March edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. Manfred Man’s Lucky Sweynesse is ranked joint-11th with an international rating of 118, while John Size-trained Helios Express is joint-15th with a rating of 117.

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