The world’s best sprinter Ka Ying Rising will return straight home to Hong Kong after his tilt in the Group One The Everest (1,200m) with his owner keen to show his commitment to Hong Kong racing.
On a winning run of 12 races which includes four Group Ones, the David Hayes-trained superstar was imperious last season - rising up to a rating of 132 from 111.
He dismantled his sprinting rivals by going faultless in the Hong Kong Speed Series, winning the Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m) and Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) before crowning his season with a devastating win in the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m).
His success in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize was boosted by the second Satono Reve finishing runner-up in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1,200m) at Royal Ascot and Ka Ying Rising himself is getting ready to go international with a trip to Australia.
HE DOES IT AGAIN! 🚀
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 27, 2025
Ka Ying Rising makes it 12 straight wins, four Group 1s and a HK$5 million Speed Series bonus with victory in the 2025 Chairman's Sprint Prize... @zpurton #FWDChampionsDay | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/IvPSPH9pcn
He will line up in the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s slot for the A$20 million (HK$102 million) Group One The Everest (1,200m) on October 18, but his connections have resisted the temptation to go for further riches abroad.
Hayes had considered running Ka Ying Rising in the Group One Champions Sprint (1,200m) at Flemington or the Russell Balding Stakes (1,300m) at Rosehill - with the Rosehill race boasting a A$1 million bonus to the Everest winner - but connections have decided to prioritize the sprinter’s Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) preparation.
“It’s been decided that we’ll give Ka Ying Rising one run in The Everest, and then the owner is keen to concentrate on Hong Kong,” said Hayes.
“He’s avoiding the temptation of the big money in Australia. He’s decided win, lose or draw, to come back after the race.
“It’s nice to have it locked in so we can plan. The owners really committed to Hong Kong racing and the Hong Kong Jockey Club have been so helpful with the slot that he wants to do the right thing by the club.”
What a return!? 😳
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) September 8, 2024
Star sprinter Ka Ying Rising defies top-weight to land the Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup with @zpurton for David Hayes at Sha Tin... 🚀#SeasonOpener | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/bb9OqCijdc
Ka Ying Rising began his perfect campaign last year by winning off a huge weight of 135lb in the Class One Chief Executive’s Cup (1,200m) before going on to collect seven Group races.
The same starting point is set to be employed by Hayes before he sets sail for Australia, provided he trials well beforehand.
“I’m pretty confident he’ll be running on opening day - if he trials well the week before he’ll run in the Chief Executive’s Cup,” said Hayes.
The 62-year-old sits a clear second in the trainers premiership, seven winners behind leader John Size after a double at Sha Tin on Saturday evening.
Trainer David Hayes.
Hayes is looking to finish the campaign with a flourish but any hopes of pipping Size were likely extinguished by the luck of the draw, with a lot of his runners reserved out of Wednesday’s Happy Valley fixture.
That leaves him with just a trio of runners on the third-to-last meeting of the season, but Hayes has remained typically upbeat.
“I’ve got lots of reserves, I’ll have a big hand on Sunday and a very big hand on the final day - it’s just the way it fell with the races,” said Hayes.
“It’d be dreaming to think we could win, John has to have a wipe for the last three meetings - I’m very happy to run a clear second.”