Hong Kong Champion Ka Ying Rising was headed straight to quarantine to prepare for the Group I The Everest after another stunning performance when resuming for the new season on Sunday at Sha Tin.
Sent forward by Zac Purton from the gates, the five-year-old made short work of taking control of proceedings early in the straight and coasted to the line to run the 1200m in 1.07.63 on a track which had received 15mils of rain in the hours before.
At the finish he’d beaten Lucky Sweynesse (Sweynesse) by 2.3 lengths with Divano (Brave Smash) third.
“Tonight he goes in (to quarantine)”, said trainer David Hayes after the race.
“He'll have a nice cold bath this afternoon, and he has an easy week in quarantine next week.
“And then he'll be doing work probably consistently the week after, and then he'll arrive in Canterbury two weeks from today.
“He'll come out of quarantine and have a dress rehearsal at Randwick probably 11 days before the big race.”
Prior to this race Ka Ying Rising was rated the $1.80 favourite for The Everest, some six weeks out from the race, however was firmed into $1.70 following the proof he’s returned at the top of his game.
It’s the 14th win from 16 starts with earnings of $HK52million for Ka Ying Rising, the first, and only winner for Missy Moo who died in 2022.
She was 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 Mr Brightside.
He is the best of 14 stakes winners for Shamexpress who is set to stand the 2025 season at New Zealand’s Windsor Park Stud at a fee of $20,000.
