Hong Kong: Ka Ying Rising gets 'dream' draw in Chairman's Sprint

Aiming for a 12th consecutive victory with Ka Ying Rising, David Hayes had to endure a few nervous moments before the world’s highest-rated sprinter drew perfectly in barrier 4 for the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin on Sunday.

With only three barriers left to be drawn at the official barrier draw function at Sha Tin on Thursday, Ka Ying Rising was faced with the prospect of drawing either gates 4, 7 or the outside barrier of 13.

Luckily for Hayes, John Size’s Helios Express drew barrier 13 and then with two barriers left, Ka Ying Rising was allocated barrier 4.

“I was very, very happy to see barrier 13 come out (for Helios Express),” Hayes said. “And I thought 4 was the dream barrier in that scenario. He is a horse that overcomes barriers, but you don’t want to be the widest every time.”

Confidence continues to grow for Hayes, who said Ka Ying Rising is in the best form he has been in all year.

He said the stable star would run a mighty race and if he gets a normal run, he should be a genuine $1.10 or $1.20 chance.

“And if he is better than $1.20, then back him,” he said.

A versatile galloper who adapts to all track conditions, Hayes said Ka Ying Rising could break his own Sha Tin track record of 1:07.2 for six furlongs if there was enough early speed in the race.

“If he flies the start, he might lead and take it up. If he jumps with them he’ll probably box seat behind some obvious pace, but that’s really (jockey) Zac Purton’s problem now,” Hayes said. “And he’ll have it worked out. He gets it done on the big days, so I’m not worried at all.

“He can take a sit or lead, either way.”

Hayes said he believes Ka Ying Rising is a bit faster than the three horses, A Shin Fencer, Danon McKinley and Beauty Waves, drawn inside him.

“Faster than most horses really,” Hayes said. “He’ll get the rail and Zac will be able to choose whether he leads or takes a sit.”

Japan has four contenders in the race, led by Satono Reve who drew 6 winning the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (G1) last out in his first run since finishing third to Ka Ying Rising in the Hong Kong Sprint (G1) at Sha Tin on Dec. 8.

Joao Moreira, who has ridden Satono Reve in his last two starts, again takes the ride on Sunday but isn’t underestimating the task it will take to topple the world’s top sprinter.

He said he was happy with the barrier draw.

“He is a big horse who needs a bit of space,” Moreira said. “It seems like the real pace will come from the outside.

“He is a bloody good horse and could be one of those causing an upset here. However, Ka Ying Rising deserves all the respect and he has done so well and is one of the best sprinters in the world, if not the best.”

Moreira said Satono Reve is reaching his peak as a 6-year-old and doesn’t have to improve much on last December’s effort to finish alongside Ka Ying Rising.

“It was good momentum, and I just hope we can keep it up,” he said. “It’s not easy, but we are going to try.”

Moreira said it was impressive performance in Japan when he downed what the globe-trotting jockey said was a very strong field. He said Satono Reve had improved since his Hong Kong mission and was more competitive.

“As you probably know, I sat on him this morning and looking around on the track with him and he gave me a good feel once again and I can’t see a reason why he can’t perform once again,” Moreira said.