The world’s best sprinter tag sits easily upon Ka Ying Rising who produced an utterly stunning display in winning the Group I Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Ka Ying Rising wins the G1 Centenary Sprint. Photo: HKJC.
Jumping from the outside gate, Zac Purton presumed he had lengths on them and at the end may have even undersold him.
He fired from the gates, making plenty of use of his mount to cross the face of the field to lead, however any early effort amounted to nothing as when Purton let him lengthen on straightening he gapped them, going to the line throttled down in a three and a quarter length romp over Helios Express (Toronado) and howdeepisyourlove (Deep Field).
And when the clock stopped he’d lowered his own Sha Tin course record from 1.07.47 to 1.07.2.
“We went too slow in December (Longines Hong Kong Sprint) and it allowed the other horses to get too close,” said Purton.
“Today we made sure the man was going to take care of the boys.
“He can run sectionals comfortably and he can kick off that.
“Today we made a statement again.”
The best quote from trainer David Hayes probably came pre-race:
“He hasn’t gone backwards since his last run. If anything he’s gone a little bit forward.
“I’m expecting a huge run today.”
And so it was.
Ka Ying Rising is the first winner for Missy Moo, a five-time winning Per Incanto (USA) mare and part of one of the most iconic families in the NZ Studbook, and one not noted for sprinting prowess.
She traces directly back to blue hen Taiona, the dam of Champion 3YO and Vic Derby winner Sovereign Red, Melbourne Cup winner Gurner’s Lane, with the family also featuring modern day superstar Mr Brightside.
Ka Ying Rising is the third Group One winner for Newmarket Handicap winner Shamexpress who stood the 2024 season at a fee of $8,000.
He was bred by Fraser Auret in New Zealand, who had the horse in work at his property before an impressive jump out at Levin saw Lindsay Park broker a deal to buy him.
After a short stint at Lindsay Park in Victoria where his natural talent quickly shone, he was shipped to Hong Kong unraced and the rest, as they say, is history.
Tab.com.au currently have him installed as the $3.50 favourite for The Everest, some nine months away.
