Can the Australasian Bred Sprinters Win in HK on Sunday?

Australasian bred sprinters have dominated the Group I Hong Kong Sprint accounting for eight of the past 10 winners so let’s take a look at the candidates for this Sunday following the barrier draw.

The honour roll in the past 10 years looks like this with last year’s winner Lucky Sweynesse having a full brother to be offered at Karaka 2025 as Lot 93.

Race favourite for Sunday is the David Hayes trained up and comer Ka Ying Rising, who has won eight of 10 starts including his last seven in a row, but is yet to win at G1 level.

A four year-old gelding by Shamexpress, Ka Ying Rising was bought privately to race in Hong Kong.

He is the first winner for Missy Moo, a five time winning Per Incanto (USA) mare that traces directly back to blue hen Taiona, the dam of Group I winners Sovereign Red, Gurner’s Lane and Trichelle with the family also producing modern day superstar Mr Brightside, who is trained by the sons of David Hayes at their Australian Lindsay Park training base in Victoria.

Both Mr Brightside and Ka Ying rising have Taiona as their fourth dam!

Other runners this year bred in Australasia are: Victor the Winner (Toronado (IRE), Invincible Sage (Thronum), Flying Ace (Swiss Ace), Recommendation (Shalaa IRE), Lucky With You (Artie Schiller (USA), Helios Express (Toronado (IRE) and Howdeepisyourlove (Deep Field).

Also adding interest are a pair of Irish bred sons of Australian sire Starspangledbanner in California Spangle (IRE) and Beauty Waves (IRE), while Zoustar has a runner with his well travelled three year-old colt Starlust (GB) chasing a second G1 following his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita last month.

Beware the Japanese trio of sprinters Lugal, Toshin Macau and Satono Reve, who is the most lightly raced of them with seven wins from 10 starts and is by Lord Kanaloa, who won this race himself twice in 2012 and 2013 and has also sired a winner in Danon Smash.