Ka Ying Rising shares top honours at HKJC Awards

For the first time in history, two horses shared the top gong at the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Champions Awards on Friday night, with New Zealand-bred sprinting sensation Ka Ying Rising and Triple Crown winner Romantic Warrior crowned joint Horses of the Year.

Ka Ying Rising retained his crown from last season, joining fellow back-to-back Kiwi-bred champion Beauty Generation (2018, 2019) and New Zealand-sourced champion Golden Sixty (2021, 2022, 2023).

It was also the second Horse of the Year crown for Romantic Warrior, who was crowned Hong Kong’s Champion horse in the 2023/24 season.

Ka Ying Rising had another memorable season, with the David Hayes-trained gelding unbeaten in eight races, with five of those at elite-level, including the A$20 million The Everest (1200m) in Sydney.

His victory in the Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) extended his unbeaten streak to a record 20 consecutive races, and he surpassed Silent Witness’ previous record of 17 consecutive Hong Kong wins, which has held for over two decades.

The son of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress, was also crowned Champion Sprinter.

Ka Ying Rising was bred by Fraser and Erin Auret under their Grandmoral Lodge banner, and the gelding they nicknamed “Rocket” has gone on to win 21 of his 23 starts to date, and more than $35 million in prizemoney.

The Danny Shum-trained Romantic Warrior also enjoyed plenty of success, winning both the Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) and FWD QEII Cup (2000m) for an unprecedented fourth time.

A graduate of the Hong Kong International Sale, Romantic Warrior made a remarkable comeback from fetlock surgery this term, and once again dominated the middle distance and stayer divisions, becoming only the third horse in Hong Kong history to secure the Triple Crown – which requires the same horse to land the Gr.1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m), Gr.1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) and Gr.1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) in the same season.

Romantic Warrior also won five Group One races this term, boosting his prizemoney to a world record-extending HK$288,745,697. Based on his outstanding achievements, he was named Champion Middle-Distance Horse five years in a row, and also Champion Stayer. In addition, he was crowned this season’s Champion Miler based on his brilliant winning performance in the Gr.1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m).

Hong Kong Champions Awards winners: