A bigger and stronger Ka Ying Rising (NZ) emerged from his winter break at Sha Tin on Sunday and produced an explosive performance in winning the Group III HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup(1200m) by nearly eight lengths in the unbelievable time of 1:06.11 seconds.
Trained by David Hayes and ridden by Zac Purton, the champion was low flying throughout and made it look all too easy as he bettered his own track record by a second.
"When the Class 5 ran good time in race one, I thought the record was within reach," Hayes said.
"Then Zac basically eased him down last year in the same race for the last 200m. He let him run to the line today and he hasn't been let run to the line many times.
"Of course he smashed his own record, and you don't see that ever often, by a second.
"There could be people out there saying that he beat nothing but a few of those horses have won $20 million, $25 million Hong Kong dollars so they are well-rated horses and Group horses around the world.
"They don't look it when they race him, they get taken out of their comfort zone."
Zac Purton knows Ka Ying Rising better than anyone and believed there is improvement to come… a scary thought for his Everest rivals!
This race will be Ka Ying Rising's only start in HK this preparation before he heads over to Australia for The Everest.
As he did last year, Hayes plans to trial Ka Ying Rising in Sydney a touch over a week out from the Everest.
Ka Ying Rising will enter quarantine on Sunday evening with Hayes expecting he will take the trip over to Australia in his stride.
The best horse sired by Shamexpress, Ka Ying Rising has the overall record of 22 wins and two seconds from 24 starts.
He 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 miler Mr Brightside.
Both Mr Brightside and Ka Ying Rising have Taiona as their fourth dam!
