Ka Ying Rising on track for Hong Kong return
Hong Kong champion Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) has emerged unscathed from his narrow defeat in Saturday’s Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick, with trainer David Hayes confident the star sprinter will bounce back on home soil.
The New Zealand-bred son of Shamexpress left Australia on Monday and will spend two weeks in quarantine at Sha Tin before resuming his familiar preparation towards December’s Hong Kong International Races.
Ka Ying Rising’s remarkable 21-race winning streak came to an end when he was narrowly beaten by Tempted (Street Boss) in the A$20 million feature, with the Godolphin filly prevailing by half a neck under Chad Schofield.
Despite covering ground on a yielding track, the world’s highest-rated racehorse fought strongly to the line, leaving Hayes encouraged by his performance.
“He’s pulled up fine,” Hayes said. “It’s such a shame to see a champion get beaten. He seemed to race in patches on Saturday, but he was very brave, and I think he would have won in a few more strides.
“He’s coming back to Hong Kong and will go into quarantine and have an easy week there with some trotting and cantering in the dressage ring.
“In the second week of quarantine, he’ll be back on the track, and then he’ll come back to my stables.
“It’s only early in the season. He’s got a big season ahead and I’m looking forward to getting him back home. It was tough seeing him lose in the way he did, but he’ll bounce back.”
Ka Ying Rising will make his next appearance in the HK$5.35 million Gr.2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on November 22 before attempting a third consecutive victory in the HK$28 million Gr.1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on December 13.
Hayes confirmed the Hong Kong Sprint and the HK$24 million Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) on April 25 remain the gelding’s principal targets this season.
