Ka Ying Rising Continues Kiwi Bred HK Success

Media Release - Monday July 15

New Zealand-breds have long held a strong record in Hong Kong, which was further enhanced at the 2023/24 Hong Kong Jockey Club Champion Awards on Friday when Ka Ying Rising was crowned Champion Griffin.

The son of Shamexpress has been a standout in the Asian racing jurisdiction, winning five and runner-up in two of his seven starts last season for trainer David Hayes, highlighted by his victory in the Gr.3 Sha Tin Vase (1200m) last month.

Ka Ying Rising was crowned both Champion Griffin and Most Improved Horse at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Champion Awards.  Photo: HKJC

Ka Ying Rising became the third New Zealand-bred to be crowned Champion Griffin in the last five years, joining multiple Group One winner Lucky Sweynesse (2022) and Good Luck Friend (2020).

Bred by Grandmoral Lodge Racing, Ka Ying Rising is out of the Per Incanto mare Missy Moo, and had a couple of jump outs for Marton trainer Fraser Auret before he was sold to clients of Hayes and had a few trials in Australia before making his way to Hong Kong.

Friday’s announcement was welcome by Windsor Park Stud, who stand Ka Ying Rising’s sire Shamexpress.

“He (Shamexpress) leaves good horses up there and he also has that very good horse in Singapore as well, Lim’s Saltoro,” Windsor Park Stud General Manager Steve Till said.

“It has been exciting to watch his (Ka Ying Rising) progress through the autumn. His time in the Sha Tin Vase was very good.

“He has a champion trainer in David Hayes, who knows good horses so well, and he is targeting him towards the international meeting in December for the Group One sprint race. You know the horse must be pretty good when David is talking about the horse in those sorts of terms, and is setting the horse for that sort of race.

Advertisement

“He could end up being Shamexpress’s best. He (Shamexpress) is a very good sire and he has got two beauties going around for him at the moment.”

Till said gaining accolades such as Champion Griffin is very important for stallion careers.

“Our Asian markets are very important and none more so than Hong Kong,” he said. “The standard is so high there that if you have got a stallion that can sire good horses up there, the market demand then increases and that filters right through.

“In the case of Ka Yong Rising, he is out of a Per Incanto mare, and Per Incanto is a good example of that. His progeny have done very well in Hong Kong as well, and that combination all bodes well.”

Till said Shamexpress’s progeny are well suited to Hong Kong because of their demeanour.

“He is a great stallion to have around and he is a very physical stallion,” he said. “He is a straightforward horse to mate to because he leaves good types, but he can impart a very good constitution and brain into his progeny, and I think that stands them in very good stead when they go to overseas environments like Hong Kong and Singapore. It is a great thing to have in your armoury when you are a stallion, and I think that has contributed to his success.”

Shamexpress stands at Windsor Park Stud, near Cambridge, for a fee of $8,000+GST. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Exciting Farnan Colt Wins for Mulberry Racing
A standout in the mounting yard on type at Randwick on Saturday, Farnan colt Nashville Jack has also been an eye-catcher at the recent trials in Sydney and he delivered on potential when resuming from a spell with a stylish win.
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.
Kiwi Breeder Ready to Cheer Ka Ying Rising
Marton trainer Fraser Auret is set to have a busy weekend, with stakes contenders scattered around the country as well as his homebred sprinting superstar Ka Ying Rising taking on the world’s best once more at Sha Tin on Sunday.
'I always thought he was a seven furlong, miler' - Ka Ying Rising Delivers
If we’re talking turf, Hong Kong can justifiably claim to have the best two horses in the world and Ka Ying Rising cemented his part in that brief with another powerful win in the Group I Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday.