Sha Tin: Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior win stakes

Ka Ying Rising forged into Hong Kong racing history with a record-equalling win in the $13 million Group 1 Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday, and trainer David Hayes predicted the world's best sprinter could break the track's 1400m course record next month.

Ka Ying Rising's victory marked his 17th consecutive win, matching the streak Silent Witness set from 2002 to 2005. Hayes believes the superstar gelding can threaten Sha Tin's 1400m record of 1:19.92 – jointly held by Encouraging and Packing Hermod – when he contests the $13 million Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (G1) on Feb. 22.

"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."

Ridden by Karis Teetan in last year's Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup in the absence of regular rider Zac Purton, who was injured, Ka Ying Rising clocked 1:20.33.

Ka Ying Rising clocked 1:07.66 on Sunday – outside his own 1200m Sha Tin turf track record of 1:07.20 – after coasting to the finish in defeating Helios Express by 1 1/4 lengths, with Fast Network two lengths back in third.

Moderately away at the start, Ka Ying Rising quickly mustered speed to lead before Matthew Chadwick drove Beauty Waves to the front. Aware of Luke Ferraris and Lucky With You lurking to his outside, Purton ensured Ka Ying Rising had clear running before unleashing the gelding from the 300m mark.

Exploding clear with a four-length lead, Purton eased up noticeably over the final 200m, clocking a modest 11.47 seconds for that section.

"The winning margin wasn't probably the greatest, but it's probably the most Zac has ever eased him down," Hayes said. "So, he had an easy last 200 metres and he dominated as the market suggested he would. Nice to see him do it."

Ka Ying Rising improved his record to 20: 18-1-1 and remains unbeaten since Feb. 12, 2024, with career earnings of $16.7 million (HK$129.8 million).

Celebrating his fourth win in the race after victories with Aerovelocity (2016), Lucky Sweynesse (2023) and Ka Ying Rising last year, Purton said: "What can I say? We've said it all with the horse.

"I had to make sure my bloke was in a rhythm. I'm surprised he run the time he run because it didn't feel like he ran that quick sort of mid-early in the race. Yeah, he's a different class.

"I never thought I would see it (a record-equalling 17th win in a row), to be honest. It's rare what Silent Witness did and what Ka Ying has been able to do so far – and let's hope he can keep going on with it."

"After Silent Witness, I don't think anyone thought they would ever see it again. Fortunately for us who are involved with the horse, he's equalled him and can hopefully put his own benchmark.

"It's pretty nice when you look at the big screen and you're a long way in front, I can tell you. A race is a race. You've still got to go out and do it and hopefully he can hold his form, which we will expect he will.

"He's got a big race next time, obviously he goes up in distance but he's up for it."

Summing up the mood of the six beaten jockeys, Helios Express' rider Hugh Bowman said: "Another sound, consistent performance. The slower pace didn't suit, neither does the fast pace when you're chasing that horse."

The Centenary Sprint Cup was the first leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series, which also includes the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (G1) and the $24 million Chairman's Sprint Prize (G1) on April 26.

Romantic Warrior launches Triple Crown bid

Romantic Warrior vanquished the field to claim a first victory in the $13 million Stewards' Cup (G1) and launched his bid for the Triple Crown in scintillating style.

A 12th Group 1 success for Romantic Warrior began to look like a foregone conclusion as early as 400m out, as a stock-still James McDonald eased up alongside early leader Lucky Sweynesse, with defending Stewards' Cup champion Voyage Bubble three wide and treading water in his attempts to get after Danny Shum's 8-year-old, and Mark Newnham's My Wish stuck in traffic further back in the field.

After eye-balling Manfred Man's galloper for 100m, McDonald released the brakes and quickly sent Romantic Warrior clear. Lucky Sweynesse boxed on gamely to finish second on his debut over the mile course, but the Acclamation gelding continued to pull away, passing the post 1 3/4 lengths clear of the field. Voyage Bubble was further back in third, with My Wish in a dead-heat for fourth – with Sunlight Power – after a torrid run in transit.

Regular partner McDonald long ago ran out of superlatives to describe "the horse of a lifetime," but was thrilled to claim the Stewards' Cup at the second attempt.

"His demeanor, his courage, his will to win, it's in spades," McDonald said. "It's incredible. I say it every time, but when he steps out, it's a privilege to ride such a horse of his calibre.

"He began really well, and I thought it was going to be pretty smoothly run. But a few picked up, which was quite surprising, and he was always in a nice rhythm.

"Gate seven out of nine gave us that opportunity to not force our hand and wait until it settled down, and I knew Voyage Bubble was three deep, and I wasn't going to give him a cart."

"He's been unlucky in the past, but bumped into a good horse. But he's a warrior," he added.

Romantic Warrior, who last week was ranked seventh in the 2025 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, has now won 21 of his 28 starts. The Stewards' Cup win took his record-extending prize money haul to a staggering $31.8 million (HK$247.38 million). Earlier this season, he triumphed for an unprecedented fourth time in the $5.1 million Hong Kong Cup (G1).

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 horses to sweep the Triple Crown is now underway.

The next assignment is back at Romantic Warrior's favored trip in the $13 million Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1) on March 1. The $13 million Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (G1) completes the Triple Crown on May 24.

"I'm so proud of Romantic Warrior," said Shum, expressing his delight at the performance. "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 keep him happy, keep him healthy – it's an easy job for me."

McDonald, who regularly jets into Hong Kong from Australia to ride Romantic Warrior, agreed it was a perfect way to launch the Triple Crown campaign.

"It's a long way to go, but, yeah, the first one's ticked off."

Elsewhere on the card, Hayes shared the day's trainer honors with Francis Lui and moved to 30 wins for the season. In addition to Ka Ying Rising blitzing the field in the Centenary Sprint Cup (G1) under Purton, Hayes combined with Bowman as Turin Champions (128 lbs.) took the Class 4 Sound Print Handicap (1400m). He completed a treble when Positive Smile (130 lbs.) claimed the Class 4 Waikuku Handicap (1400m) under Keith Yeung.

McDonald struck on impressive debutant Gold Patch (127 lbs.) for Lui in the card-opening Class 4 Peniaphobia Handicap (1000m). The 3-year-old Ardrossan gelding got up when challenged late by Purton on Sparkling Fellow (135 lbs.).

Winning Wing (129 lbs.) maintained his remarkable record under Dylan Mo with perhaps the best win of his four from 15 starts in the Class 2 Ambitious Dragon Handicap (2000m). The Lui student was forced to dig deep in the final stretch to grab a resilient win over Richard Kingscote-ridden Prestige Good (122 lbs.).

Lui's treble was sealed when Invincible Shield (134 lbs.) scraped home in the Class 2 Able Friend Handicap (1200m) ridden by Vincent Ho.

Purton was the leading jockey with three wins. Before the Centenary Sprint Cup triumph, he took the Class 4 Beat The Clock Handicap (1200m) on Ricky Yiu's Lucky Eight (135 lbs.), lifting over Gallant Design (127 lbs.) in a narrow finish. He completed his trio of wins aboard Happy Index (126 lbs.) in the Class 3 Aerovelocity Handicap (1200m) for Man.

Brett Crawford sealed a 13th win of the season and continued his successful link-up with Teetan when Island Buddy (118 lbs.) scored a battling first win in Hong Kong in the Class 4 Mr Vitality Handicap (1200m).

Casper Fownes closed the card with a victory in the Class 3 Beauty Generation Handicap (1600m), Flying Luck (120 lbs.) securing a third Hong Kong win with Ellis Wong on board.

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