By Michael Cox
Sunday's Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize continues the great Champions Day tradition of "Hong Kong versus Japan." The sprint feature also renews one of the city's greatest-ever racetrack rivalries: Zac Purton versus Joao Moreira.
Ka Ying Rising versus Satono Reve is more than just Hong Kong versus Japan, and a battle of wits between the horse's master trainers David Hayes and Noriyuki Hori. It also brings together, just for old time's sake, the horse's two superstar jockeys.
Purton and Moreira have won the last 11 jockeys' championships in Hong Kong between them. From Moreira's arrival in 2013 until his departure in 2022, the two riders thrilled the city's racing fans with their memorable on-track exploits.
Moreira returns to Hong Kong from his temporary base in Japan in sensational form – he has won three G1 races over a four-week span during a short-term sprint – and is "hopeful" Satono Reve can cause what would be a historical upset in the 1,200-meter race.
Local hero Ka Ying Rising has won his last 11 races and will again start short odds in what will be his final start of the season.
"Well, you have to have some faith," a buoyant Moreira told The Standard on Thursday at Sha Tin. "Ka Ying Rising is obviously a very special horse to do what he has done but nothing is ever certain in racing and we will be doing our absolute best on Sunday."
The Brazilian jockey had just ridden Satono Reve in a solid workout on the Sha Tin turf under the watchful eye of Hori.
"I was happy with the work, he is feeling good," Moreira said. "We were third behind Ka Ying Rising last December in the Hong Kong Sprint but we were beaten less than one length. It isn't impossible to turn that around."
The rivalry between the two riders was sometimes heated but never disrespectful and Purton told The Standard he was happy to see Moreira doing well.
"It's good to have him back," the Australian said. "He bases himself mostly in Brazil these days so we don't get to see much of him. He has done well in Japan in recent weeks and he comes here with a decent ride."
"Satono Reve has been the best sprinter there in Japan recently and ran well here in December. He likes Sha Tin and he will be a bit more familiar, so that could help him this time. It's a good race, with a lot of speed, and it is not a two-horse race."
