From a freakish sprinter with a (NZ) suffix to an exciting group of up-and-comers sourced from the Karaka sale ring, New Zealand’s influence was strongly felt on Hong Kong racetracks during the 2024-25 season.
The headlines were deservedly dominated by the world’s highest-rated sprinter, Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress).
The David Hayes-trained megastar went unbeaten in eight dazzling appearances this season, improving his overall record to 13 wins and two seconds from 15 starts. He has earned more than HK$65.9m (NZ$13.9m) for the Ka Ying Syndicate.
His eight victories in 2024-25 included Group One blitzes in the Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m), Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m). Meanwhile, a Group Two victory in the Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) saw him break Sha Tin’s track record with a time of 1:07.2.
Ka Ying Rising towered above his peers in this month’s Hong Kong Champion Awards, where he was voted Horse Of The Year, Champion Sprinter and Champion Four-Year-Old.
In a few months’ time, Hayes will give Ka Ying Rising the opportunity to shine on the world stage. He is the favourite for the richest turf race on the planet – the A$20m Group One The Everest (1200m) in Sydney on October 18.
“I have had some incredible and exciting moments and some exciting horses, but I think he is the most consistently exciting horse I’ve had,” Hayes told Racenet. “He just keeps putting up incredible performances and runs that are so dominant.
“If he goes for another 12 months, at the rate he is going, he will end up one of the all-time greats.”
Ka Ying Rising was bred by Marton-based trainer Fraser Auret under the banner of Grandmoral Lodge.
Ka Ying Rising is the best of 14 stakes-winning progeny of Shamexpress (NZ), who stands at Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand for a service fee of $20,000. Shamexpress has sired a total of 153 winners from just 233 runners, including eight from 14 in Hong Kong.
The dam of Ka Ying Rising is Missy Moo (NZ) (Per Incanto), who won five races in New Zealand and finished fourth in the Group Three Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2000m).
Missy Moo herself went through the Karaka sale ring as a yearling, where she was offered by Sanderston Park Ltd during the 2014 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale. She was bought by the Griffin Family Trust for a mere $500. She earned more than 100 times that amount on the racetrack, then went on to even greater things as a broodmare.
Ka Ying Rising’s Hong Kong Sprint triumph continued a proud record for horses bred and/or purchased in New Zealand in that flagship sprint race. Other winners of the HK$26m feature in the last 11 years include Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro), Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) in 2023, Sky Field (Deep Field) in 2021, Beat The Clock (Hinchinbrook) in 2019, Mr Stunning (Exceed And Excel) in 2017 and 2018, and Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins) in 2014 and 2016.
Exciting Karaka Graduates
While Ka Ying Rising takes top billing in any review of the 2024-25 Hong Kong season, there is also no shortage of exciting young talent rising through the ranks – many of them sourced from NZB sales.
PATCH OF COSMO
(NZ) was bred by Waikato Stud and is a son of their hugely exciting stallion Super Seth, whose oldest progeny are only three-year-olds and already include the Group One winners Feroce (NZ), Linebacker (NZ), La Dorada (NZ) and Maison Louis (NZ).
Waikato Stud offered Patch Of Cosmo in Book 1 of Karaka 2023, where he was knocked down for $70,000. He subsequently returned to Karaka as a member of Riversley Park’s draft for the 2023 Ready to Run Sale, and he was bought by Yeung Kin Man for $260,000.
The Manfred Man-trained Patch Of Cosmo had eight starts in the 2024-25 season for four wins, most recently a convincing last-start success over 1600 metres at Sha Tin in March. The three-year-old gelding has earned HK$3.86m (NZ$818,400) with the prospect of much more to come.
BULB GENERAL
The Cambridge Stud-bred Bulb General (NZ) (Embellish) was a member of his breeders’ Book 1 draft at Karaka 2023, where trainer Jamie Richards bought him in partnership with Andrew Williams Bloodstock for $175,000.
Bulb General has had only two starts so far, starting with a third placing on debut in February. His only other start was on July 13, where he romped to a super-impressive win by two and a half lengths. Having quickly amassed HK$789,750 (NZ$167,440) in stakes, he is clearly one to watch in 2025-26.
MR ENERGIA
The David Hall-trained Mr Energia (NZ) (Swiss Ace) made a good impression during the 2024-25 season, winning three of his 11 starts and placing on another three occasions. The talented four-year-old was a last-start winner by a length and three-quarters over 1200 metres at Sha Tin on July 5. He has earned more than HK$2.91m (NZ$616,630).
Mr Energia was bred by Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey and was offered by Westbury during the 2022 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka.
MAGNIFIQUE
Hall is also the trainer of Magnifique (NZ) (Charm Spirit), who was bred by Windsor Park Stud. He was bought by Kirk Wong for $250,000 from the Riverrock Farm draft at the 2023 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka.
Magnifique was a smart winner on debut in January, and he has barely put a foot wrong since. With a last-start success over 1200 metres at Sha Tin on July 5, he completed his first season of racing with an impressive record of three wins from only four starts. Magnifique has earned HK$2.39m (NZ$506,200).
LUCKY MY WAY
The Manfred Mann-trained Lucky My Way (NZ) (Proisir) finished 12th and third in his first two starts in March and April, then turned a corner and scored stylish wins in both of his other two appearances. His promising four-race career has so far banked HK$1.44m (NZ$305,050).
A son of leading sire Proisir, Lucky My Way was a member of the Landsdowne Park draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2023. Co-owners Ricky Choy Wing Kay and Patrick Wong Ho Yin bought him for $330,000.
WROTE A NEW PAGE
The Hong Kong Breeders Club-bred Wrote A New Page (NZ) (Wrote) was a $75,000 purchase from Highview Stud’s draft in Book 2 of Karaka 2023.
Wrote A New Page is trained by Danny Shum and improved throughout a seven-race preparation this season, culminating in convincing back-to-back wins at Happy Valley in June. He has so far banked HK$1.64m (NZ$347,420) for owners Sammy Ma Hon Kit and Ronald Ma Chun Ho.
TACTICAL COMMAND
Already a two-race winner before this season, Tactical Command (NZ) (Charm Spirit) took his career up a notch in 2024-25 with three wins within the space of eight starts between February and July. The five-year-old has now had a total of 33 starts for five wins, nine placings and HK$4.79m (NZ$1.01m) for the Righteousness Syndicate. He is trained by Mark Newnham.
Co-breeders Mapperley Stud put Tactical Command through the ring during Book 1 of Karaka 2021, where he was sold for $40,000. He was later re-offered by JC Thoroughbreds at the 2021 Ready to Run Sale and was bought by Upper Bloodstock for $160,000.
ALL’S WELL
The Blandford Lodge-bred All’s Well (NZ) (Frosted) was a bargain buy from Book 1 of Karaka 2023, where he cost just $20,000. He was a four-length trial winner in New Zealand before joining the Hong Kong stable of Dennis Yip.
All’s Well kicked off his racing career with four starts in 2024-25, including an impressive come-from-behind victory at Sha Tin on July 13. He has quickly amassed HK$742,950 ($157,300) – almost eight times his purchase price – and is unlikely to stop there.
The 2025 edition of the Ready to Run Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre on Thursday 13 & Friday 14 November with Breeze Ups to be held at Te Rapa Racecourse on Monday 13 & Tuesday 14 October.
Entries for the Sale are open now and close at 5pm on Friday 1 August. To nominate your rising two-year-olds for the 2025 Ready to Run Sale, visit NZB’s online portal at portal.nzb.co.nz.
Karaka 2026 will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 25 - 29 January, the iconic week on the international sales calendar marking the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand.
