From one of the most iconic Kiwi female families of them all, Kiwi bred Shamexpress gelding Ka Ying Rising continued a relentless march towards the Group I LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) in December with a commanding win in the Group II Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) on Sunday.
Posting his seventh win from nine starts and clocking one of the fastest 1200m times ever recorded at Sha Tin, Ka Ying Rising (128lb) was unextended in running 1m 07.57s to narrowly miss eclipsing Sacred Kingdom’s long-standing 1200m course record of 1m 07.50s.
He cruised to a one and a half length margin over Toronado (IRE) gelding Helios Express with Group 1 winner California Spangle (135lb) in third place. Last season’s Hong Kong Champion Griffin and Most Improved Horse, the David Hayes trained Ka Ying Rising jumped cleanly and travelled third in the run for Zac Purton before opening up to put paid to his rivals.
“Zac came in and said ‘When do you want to break the track record?’,” Hayes said. “He’s a very special horse. He can quicken off a fast pace. Those two horses in front are fast horses. I’m very excited about him.
“You really felt comfortable at the 600m mark with the Zac positioned him perfectly. He’s got a good turn of foot when he lets him down and I think he’s got a little bit more to offer.”
Ka Ying Rising will next contest the G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) on 17 November in preparation for the HK$26 million LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint on 8 December.
“He’s getting stronger and physically he’s still got a bit of improvement in him. He hasn’t got the body of California Spangle, but he went up 14 pounds between runs and he’s getting stronger,” Hayes said before indicating Ka Ying Rising would also be set for the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 31 January.
“The Classic Mile is part of his programme. He relaxes, takes the box seat and he was actually bought as a 1400m horse or a miler. For a four-year-old race, I’ll give it a go, that’s the race to try it in.
“He’s bred to run a mile, he’s got the manners to run a mile and after that we can work out whether we keep him as a sprinter or be tempted by the (BMW Hong Kong) Derby (2000m). He relaxes beautifully and that’s what a good horse does.”
Ka Ying Rising 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 runs in the Cox Plate on Saturday.
Both Mr Brightside and Ka Ying rising have Taiona as their fourth dam!
