It’s easy to see why trainer David Hayes is excited about Ka Ying Rising, the sprinting sensation who last season was crowned Hong Kong Champion Griffin and Most Improved Horse.
Returning in Sunday’s HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin, the four-year-old begins a campaign that Hayes hopes will lead to a tilt at the HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m).
“The plan is for his fourth race to be the Hong Kong Sprint. After Sunday, he’ll have two more ‘prep’ races. I didn’t want to wait to bring him back in those races because I stopped him early last season. He’s had a nice break and he needs to get racing,” Hayes said.
The HK$5.35 million G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) and HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) shape as potential second and third runs.
Ka Ying Rising, a five-time winner, closed his debut campaign with victory in the HK$4.2 million G3 Sha Tin Vase Handicap (1200m) under a featherweight impost (115lb), but on Sunday he’ll carry 135lb as the highest-rated runner in the race.
“He’s first-up and will carry a big weight … I think he’s done enough to say that he’ll be very competitive and go very close,” Hayes said.
“Any horse who can go from a rating of 52 to 111 in a single season – they’re pretty smart.”
The bay finished second in a turf barrier trial last August 31 over 1000m at Sha Tin, cruising through his hit-out under jockey Zac Purton in a time of 57.32s behind Magic Control. Purton rides again this weekend.
“Because it’s close to the race, we didn’t let him go too hard. He still ran fast time,” Hayes said.
“He’s stronger than he was last season, for sure. I think we’ll see a stronger version of him when he parades on Sunday.”
The New Zealand-bred Ka Ying Rising has carried 135lb to success previously, doing so in Class 3 as he got the better of Call Me Glorious, who subsequently won two more races last term by a combined eight and three quarter lengths.
“He’s first-up, big weight and a possible wet track – that’s not easy for any horse,” Hayes said.
“However, he did carry a big weight as a three-year-old in Class 3, so he’s a proven weight carrier. Some horses can’t carry weight, but he can.”
Hayes is also represented by Harmony N Blessed (115lb) in the feature race. Flying Ace (131lb), Lucky With You (127lb), Majestic Knight (127lb), Packing Treadmill (123lb), Beauty Charge (119lb), Superb Capitalist (118lb), Beauty Waves (115lb) and Baby Crystal (115lb) are also engaged.
Hayes also saddles Sunny Baby, Youth Power, Metro Warrior, Snowalot, *Amazing Run, Gallant Crown, Master Mastermind and Awesome Treasure this weekend.
“He (Master Mastermind) trialled very well a couple of times last season and he trialled well last Saturday,” Hayes said.
With more horses in his care, Hayes Hayes is optimistic of bettering last season’s tally of 47 wins.
“I would be very disappointed if I couldn’t beat last year’s tally, because last year I had around 48 horses for most of the year and this year I’m starting with 65. Hopefully it’ll be a significant improvement on last year,” he said.
Sunday’s season-opening 10-race fixture at Sha Tin commences at 12.50pm with the Class 5 Kowloon Peak Handicap (1600m).
