Hong Kong Sprint: Ka Ying Rising appears unbeatable

Even a supreme optimist would quickly turn into a pessimist if they attempted to offer a calculated argument why any of Ka Ying Rising’s 11 opponents in Sunday’s Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint could defeat the world’s highest-rated sprinter. 

The market again will offer almost unbackable odds for the David Hayes-trained gelding to claim his 16th consecutive victory.

“It’s quite amazing to think he’ll be in a Group 1 with very good horses and the second favorite will be 20-1,” Hayes said. “You just don’t see that. 

“It won’t be a walk in the park, but the market says it will be.”

Hayes said there were several contenders, among them John Size-trained Helios Express, who has had four Group 1 placings behind Ka Ying Rising, including a narrow second in last year’s Hong Kong Sprint.

Hugh Bowman, who has ridden Helios Express in his last nine races, said he has been on some top horses, and although he was not suggesting his gelding was up there with the best he has ridden, he is a very reliable horse.

“He is a horse with outstanding talent and he is a genuine Group 1 horse, in my opinion. But he has come along at a time when he is taking on a once-in-a-lifetime Thoroughbred in Ka Ying Rising, and we all have a healthy respect for him and what he is doing,” Bowman said.

“But I can’t go out there and try and undo the favorite, that’s not going to help me. I just have to go out there and pad up and we’ll do our best to run a peak performance, and it was nearly good enough last year. We went very close, and hopefully we can do that again.” 

Bowman had the privilege of riding a horse whom few could beat, champion mare Winx who won her last 33 races before being retired, so he knows how such dominance feels.

“We have to be realistic about our task and we are and, like I said, it’s not about beating Ka Ying Rising but it’s about getting Helios (Express) to run a peak performance. And if he does that, I’ll be very happy,” Bowman said.

The closest Bowman said Helios Express came to beating Ka Ying Rising was in last year’s edition of the Sprint when perhaps the champion was a little vulnerable after lowering the Sha Tin 1,200-meter (six-furlong) track record in his lead-up race in the Jockey Club Sprint (G2).

He believes Ka Ying Rising ran below par in the Sprint but still won by a half-length.

“His preparation this year suggests he could be in for a peak performance in the Sprint, Ka Ying Rising, so let’s hope not but it’s looking that way. But Helios Express, I think, is also ready to run the biggest race of the season and probably his life.” 

Ryan Moore, who takes the ride on Satono Reve, noted the international had been placed twice at Sha Tin, including a close third in last year’s Sprint.

“He’s (Satono Reve) been second and third here so he’s got course form and he’s a Group 1 winner,” Moore said. “He’s running against the best sprinter in the world, but he’s a nice ride to get.” 

James McDonald said his ride in the Hong Kong Sprint, Fast Network, who finished second to Ka Ying Rising at his last start, is a good horse, but he won’t beat the champion.

He said the combination of Zac Purton and Ka Ying Rising was a match made in heaven.

“Both have got the same demeanor. They both are ruthless competitors,” he said

McDonald said Ka Ying Rising had a similar racing style to champion mare Black Caviar, who went through her 25-race career undefeated. 

“They don’t do it the soft way, and he is a bit like Romantic (Warrior) and he is up in the firing line and is there to be beaten,” he said.

Coverage of the entire Hong Kong Thoroughbred season at Horse Racing Nation is made possible through a sponsorship by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.