Sweet Sixteen and Rising – Ka Ying class shines in Hong Kong Sprint
The world’s best sprinter put on a new benchmark performance, smashing his rivals to win the Hong Kong Sprint for the second time.
Hong Kong superstars Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior put on virtuoso performances on the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s biggest day, with the former stretching his unbeaten streak to 16 and the latter claiming his fourth-straight Hong Kong Cup.
Ka Ying Rising was expected to dominate the Hong Kong Sprint, a race he had won comfortably 12 months ago. But what eventuated was the most dominant victory of his 19-start career.
Zac Purton took The Everest winner straight to the lead and he never looked back, charging away to win by three-and-three quarter lengths, the biggest margin of victory in his career, in 1:07.70.
In the Kiwi-bred star’s wake was the John Size-trained Raging Blizzard, with another three-quarters of a length back to Fat Network in third.
“His last run showed us that it was on the cards today,” Purton said. “He drew the right gate, and when the barrier came out, they said, ‘What do you think?’ And I said he would win by further.
“He is just in a league of his own now. And not having to do that extra work into the first corner from a wide gate to try and get forward, probably helped him.”
Trainer David Hayes said he was relieved the five-year-old gelding didn’t let the stable or the public’s expectations down.
“He was just superb today,” he said. “The messages he was sending the week of the race suggested he’d do something like that. We are not running fast times today but he did – (running) a lot faster than the other races.”
In an ominous comment, Hayes said he hoped the six-time Group 1 winner had another 20 races in him.
Later it was the turn of Romantic Warrior to thrill the massive International day crowd when he stormed to a fourth straight win in the Hong Kong Cup.
James McDonald sat Danny Shum’s star in a perfect position off the pace set by European raider Gale and brought him with a well-timed run at the top of the straight.
He put the contest to bed in a few strides and wasn’t fully tested in winning by one-and-three-quarter lengths from Japanese challenger Bellagio Opera with Quisisana three -and-a-half lengths back in third.
It was Romantic Warrior’s 20th win at his 27th start and extends a Hong Kong winning streak that stretches back to May 2023.
The Hong Kong Mile went to another local hero, Voyage Bubble, who withstood a challenge from Japan’s Soul Rush, to make it back-to-back victories in the race.
The Ricky Yiu-trained seven-year-old showed his class with a sixth Group 1, but his first with Purton in the saddle.
“I think he just showed what type of horse he is. He’s not a horse that’s going to give you a wow performance but he’s got such a big heart that he’s always up for a fight,” Purton said.
In his own right he’s an extremely good horse, a Triple Crown winner, he’s come back today off the canvas to win. What an effort.”
In the Hong Kong Vase, French-trained Sosie gave Andre Fabre a fourth success in the race, holding off Giavellotto, with Goliath finishing third.
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