All eyes were turned to Sha Tin on Sunday where the world’s best horse Ka Ying Rising (NZ) made it 17 straight wins in the Group I Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m), while evergreen superstar Romantic Warrior (IRE) dropped back to a mile to win the Group I Stewards’ Cup (1600m).
Kiwi bred Ka Ying Rising looked fabulous in the yard and the David Hayes trained five year-old son of Shamexpress executed just as he always does for Zac Purton.
He was eased down to win by a little over a length in 1:07.66 seconds with Toronado (IRE) gelding Helios Express a gallant second.
Ka Ying Rising improved his record to 18 wins from 20 starts and is unbeaten since the 12 February, 2024 with career prizemoney of HK$129.8 million.
David Hayes predicted the world’s best sprinter could potentially break Sha Tin’s 1400m course record next month.
Reacting to Ka Ying Rising’s effort to post a 17th consecutive victory to match the winning streak of Silent Witness from 2002 to 2005, Hayes believes the superstar galloper can threaten Sha Tin’s 1400m record of 1m 19.92s – jointly held by Encouraging and Packing Hermod – when he contests the HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) on 22 February.
“Last year, he worked a bit and won it (Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup), and I think he’s a stronger, better horse this year,” Hayes said. “I think he will handle the 1400m beautifully. I’m really excited for the next race. It’s another dimension for him.
“Last year, he nearly broke the course record at 1400m, and I think if the conditions are right, he can go close again.”
Two races later and it was the turn of Romantic Warrior and James McDonald, with the pair dashing away from Lucky Sweynesse and Voyage Bubble to win the Stewards’ Cup by nearly two lengths.
An Irish bred son of Acclamation, Romantic Warrior has now won 21 of his 28 starts with his Stewards’ Cup win taking his record-extending prize money haul to a staggering HK$247.38 million.
Earlier this season, he triumphed for an unprecedented fourth time in the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m).
After campaigning overseas for much of the 2024/25 season, connections switched their focus to domestic domination in 2025/26, and the bid to match Voyage Bubble and River Verdon’s feats in becoming the only horses to sweep the Triple Crown is now underway.
The next assignment is back at Romantic Warrior’s favoured trip in the HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) on 1 March. The HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) completes the Triple Crown on 24 May.
“I’m so proud of Romantic Warrior,” said his trainer Danny Shum.
“He can handle 1600 (metres), 2000, even 2400 – he can handle any distance.
“We all know 2000 is his best trip, so no problem there. I’ll just keep him happy, keep him healthy – it’s a very easy job for me.”
