Forums

The weight of history laid heavy on the strapping shoulders of Hong Kong Horse of the Year Ka Ying Rising at Sha Tin on Sunday. Tied with Hong Kong wunderkind Silent Witness (El Moxie) on 17 consecutive wins for a Hong Kong-trained horse, the son of Shamexpress proved worthy of the task and demolished the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup to make the record his own. He shredded the course record for 1400 metres in the process, crossing the line in 1:19.36. Thanks to his heroics, the five-year-old gelding snapped the previous course record for the distance of 1:19.92 held by Encouraging and Packing Hermod. With regular rider Zac Purton aboard, the duo garnered heavy favouritism at 1-20 to pen their own entry in the history books. Away in good order from stall three, he tracked Copartner Prance (Epaulette) in second for the first 800 metres, but gave every indication he'd deliver when called upon. Rolling to the front 400 metres out after Purton just shook the reins, Ka Ying Rising dazzled in the straight, winning by 3 1/2 over last year's runner-up Helios Express (Toronado). He covered the final 800 metres in a blistering :43.96. The 2023 winner of this race, Lucky Sweynesse (Sweynesse) was third, another 1 1/4 lengths back and a nose to the good of Galaxy Patch (Wandjina) in fourth. Jockey Zac Purton confirmed trainer David Hayes had told him pre-race “to break the track record” after he had ridden Ka Ying Rising hands-and-heels to the finish. “If we can place him conservatively, we hope to have him for another couple of seasons, that's really exciting,” Hayes said of the 2025 world's highest rated sprinter. “He loves a month between runs, so we'll probably go for the G2 Sprint Cup (6f/1200m) next on 6 April and then we don't have to train him too hard and babysit him into the Chairman's Sprint Prize (1200m on 26 April). “Hopefully we can get another clean sweep of the season again with The Everest in the middle. “He's more composed than ever, he's changing legs and you can't ask for much more than he's doing. He's breaking track records and his last three runs, he'd have broken the track record if Zac had let him go. “He jumped so well (today) and cruised through the bend beautifully – at the 300m, I could really enjoy it. I could tell he had the race in command. Zac went for him a bit more than he normally does and rode to instructions, which was good. “I've trained a lot of horses that have gone 742 days without winning, so to continuously win for 742 days is mind-numbing. It's two and a half years and the thing people don't realise is that he was the [equal] youngest horse in the race today. They always think he's the big boy bashing them up, but he's actually the baby. “It's a huge relief. I didn't think the team could have had him better for today and I was confident that if the track was riding fast, he could break the (track) record. I didn't want Zac sitting up in the last 100m, I said to him 'let him run through the post and we'll see how strong he is at 1400m'. He's just a star. “I just thought for his worldwide ratings, I wanted Zac to let him go today and hopefully he can keep climbing up that incredible ladder that he's going up. When you've got a horse as good as him, he's the one everyone will be comparing the next big horse too.” It was Purton's fifth win in the race after Ambitous Dragon in 2013 and Beauty Generation in 2018, 2019 and 2020. “I think he's reached his level and it's just a matter of managing him now and try to preserve that for as long as we can,” Purton said. “He's the horse of a lifetime. I just shake my head every time with the performances he puts up and the ease with which he does. “I've just got to pinch myself, I'm so lucky.  He's just different – he's in a league of his own. To be etched in history now forever is part of my legacy, part of David's and a part of Ka Ying Rising and hopefully he can continue on doing what he's doing. We're all enjoying being associated with him and I think everyone is enjoying watching him being successful as well. “The horse deserves all the credit. He's the one with the ability and he continues to step out, race after race, and blow good quality horses away and it's very unique to see that.” Unbeaten since February 2024, Ka Ying Rising's streak includes eight Group 1s – two Longines Hong Kong Sprint victories (2024/2025), two Centenary Sprint Cup titles (2025/2026), The Everest (2025) in Australia, the Chairman's Sprint Prize (2025) and now a pair of Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup trophies (2025/2026). Pedigree Notes The New Zealand-based Shamexpress has sired 16 stakes winners (11 group) from 239 runners. Ka Ying Rising is his most decorated runner, but the son of Northern Dancer-line horse O'Reilly also has dual Group 1 winner Coventina Bay to his credit. The first foal for his five-time winning dam Missy Moo (Per Incanto), Ka Ying Rising has year-younger half-brother Ka Ying Glory (Turn Me Loose) also racing in Hong Kong.  This female line is responsible for Australasian top-level winners Gurner's Lane (Sir Tristram), Sovereign Red (Sir Tristram), Trichelle (Sir Tristram), Foxwood (Centaine), and group winner and G1 Thousand Guineas third Fuji Dancer (Fuji Kiseki). Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong QUEEN'S SILVER JUBILEE CUP-G1, HK$13,000,000, Sha Tin, 2-23, 3yo/up, 1400mT, 1:19:36 (NCR), gd. 1–KA YING RISING (NZ), 126, g, 5, by Shamexpress (NZ)             1st Dam: Missy Moo (NZ), by Per Incanto             2nd Dam: Royal Rhythm (NZ), by Rhythm             3rd Dam: Her Dynasty (NZ), by Sir Tristram (Ire) O-Ka Ying Syndicate; B-Grandmoral Lodge Racing (NZ); T-David Hayes; J-Zac Purton; HK$7,280,000. Lifetime Record: HotY-HK, G1SW-Aus, 21-19-2-0, HK$133,957,651. Click for the    free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick    Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Helios Express (Aus), 126, g, 6, Toronado (Ire)–Paris Texas (Aus), by Hinchinbrook (Aus). O-Andy Yung Ming Tai; B-C Wells (WA); T-John Size; J-Hugh Bowman; HK$2,730,000. *Known in Australia as Tex Mex. 3–Lucky Sweynesse (NZ), 126, g, 7, Sweynesse (Aus)–Madonna Mia (NZ), by Red Clubs (Ire). (NZ$90,000 2yo '20 NZBRTR). O-Cheng Ming Leung, Cheng Yu Tung, Cheng Mei Mei, Cheng Yu Wai; B-P L Dombroski, Explosive Breeding Ltd & SA Sharrock (NZ); T-K L Man; J-K C Leung; HK$1,495,000. Margins: 3HF, 1 1/4, NS. Odds: 0.05, 43.00, 45.00. Also Ran: Galaxy Patch (Aus), Raging Blizzard (NZ), Copartner Prance (Aus), Sunlight Power (Aus), Patch Of Theta (Aus), Red Lion (Ire), Packing Hermod (Aus). Click for the HKJC chart or VIDEO.   The post Ka Ying Rising Wins Record 18th Straight Race In Course Record Time appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Godolphin homebred Lucky Kid (Jpn) (Discreet Cat) went on the attack in the stretch and held off a flying finish from Don Erectus (Jpn) (Danon Legend) to register a 22-1 upset in Sunday's Listed Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse. The second winner of the race in the last five years for Sheikh Mohammed's worldwide operation and also second for his Darley Japan-based sire, Lucky Kid earned 30 points on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby to rise to the top of the table. A three-length debut winner over this course and distance Oct. 19–with Itterasshai (Jpn) (Mischievous Alex) third–the bay colt was third to G3 Saudi Derby also-ran, the filly Tokai Ma Cherie (Jpn) (Drefong) in the Listed Hyogo Junior Grand Prix at the back end of November, but failed to land a blow in a first-level allowance over the metric mile on 3-year-old debut at headquarters Jan. 31. Put right into the early mix by Mirai Iwata, Lucky Kid eased back to sit fifth down the back as favored Arcadia Cafe (Into Mischief)–the half-brother to Hyacinth winners Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) and Luxor Cafe (American Pharoah)–tugged Rachel King to the front at halfway. The public pick looked to be going very nicely up front as Lucky Kid began to chime in at the 400-meter marker, but Arcadia Cafe called it a day at the furlong grounds, and Lucky Kid hit the front and just managed to last. Itterasshai was a good third. Combustion (Jpn) (Discreet Cat) took out this event for Godolphin in 2022 before finishing down the field behind Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach the Crown {Jpn}) in the G2 UAE Derby. According to trainer Yokihiro Kato, the same Meydan feature could be in play for Lucky Kid on Mar. 28. The final leg of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Fukuryu Stakes (allowance) and worth 40 points to the winner, is held that same afternoon at Nakayama Racecourse. Lucky Kid is the sixth Japanese stakes winner for Discreet Cat and 41st overall and is out of a winning half-sister to the stakes-placed Elation (Jpn) (Deep Sky {Jpn}) and to the dam of SW & GSP La Quemada (Jpn) (American Patriot). Happy Go Lucky is also the dam of a 2-year-old full-sister to Lucky Kid and a yearling filly by Sharp Azteca. She was most recently covered by Godolphin's two-time champion dirt horse Lemon Pop, whose three Group 1 victories included the 2023 G1 February Stakes, which was also held Sunday afternoon. Sunday's Results: HYACINTH S.-Listed, ¥38,000,000 ($244,986), Tokyo, 2-22, 3yo, 1600m, 1:36.7, ft. 1–LUCKY KID (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Discreet Cat 1st Dam: Happy Go Lucky (Jpn), by Pyro 2nd Dam: Felicitous (GB), by King's Best 3rd Dam: Embassy (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB) 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O/B-Godolphin; T-Yokihiro Kato; J-Mirai Iwata; ¥20,245,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $228,271. 2–Don Erectus (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Danon Legend–Dona Primo (Jpn), by Furioso (Jpn). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Koichi Yamada; T-Noboru Takagi; J-Akira Sugawara; ¥8,000,000. 3–Itterasshai (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Mischievous Alex–Norway no Mori (Jpn), by Deep Sky (Jpn). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-SNS Group Co Ltd; B-SNS Media & Consulting Ltd; T-Makoto Saito; J-Keita Tosaki; ¥5,000,000. Margins: NK, 1 3/4, 4. Odds: 22.50, 6.60, 4.70. Also Ran: Boku Mada Nemuiyo (Jpn), Your Felicity (Jpn), Arcadia Cafe, Seize the Throne (Jpn), Yu Pharoah, Summer Madness, Taiki Blitzen (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart.   The post Godolphin’s Lucky Kid Causes Upset In Hyacinth S. appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Didn't have access to members, just a mere peasant me, was quite a rushed trip but really enjoyed my time there, and a quick road trip checking out the other venues in the area, the stand at winton was taped off at the time, obviously an earthquake risk, nice track for gallops that winton venue, shame not utilised, but just one if a few these days,

Live racing has been canceled at Aqueduct Racetrack by the New York Racing Association, Inc. due to a powerful winter storm forecast to bring heavy snowfall and extremely high winds to the region.   The National Weather Service has placed New York City under a blizzard warning beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern and continuing through Monday at 6 p.m. Aqueduct will also be closed for simulcasting on Sunday. Online wagering is available via www.NYRABets.com. The post Live Racing at Aqueduct Canceled on Sunday Due to Storm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Salon S extended his unbeaten record with a sensational all-the-way performance at Sha Tin on Sunday, capping trebles for trainer Frankie Lor Fu-chuen and jockey Matthew Poon Ming-fai. The Zousain galloper had gone from pillar to post in a pair of starts leading into the Class Three Rose Handicap (1,400m) and Poon set out with the same objective on Sunday, crashing out of stall eight and straight into the lead. Salon S proved a tricky steer for Poon, pulling his way into a four-length lead and...View the full article

David Hayes delivered a frightening warning to all of the world’s sprinters as he looked forward to ‘another couple of seasons’ of Ka Ying Rising dominance after his spine-tingling success in the Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. There was an air of inevitability about the world’s best sprinter winning his 18th consecutive race – knocking Silent Witness off his perch in the process – and he delivered in perhaps his most devastating performance. Cannoned out of...View the full article

Milan Park Principal Hops On NZB Kiwi Ride War Princess winning the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Trentham. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images) Tony Rider whet his appetite for victory in the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) after breeding the inaugural winner of the race in Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) last year, spurring him to lease a slot in this year’s edition of the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race. The Milan Park principal has leased a slot in the Champions Day feature off RACE, and fittingly, he has chosen War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag), a filly trained from the Club’s Awapuni track, as his representative. “We have got War Princess,” Rider said. “We rate this filly in the top five three-year-olds.  “Obviously, it will be hard to beat Well Written (Written Tycoon), but any of us that race horses know anything can go wrong on the day. “It worked out quite well. I know Pete Didham (co-trainer) reasonably well and I know one of the owners, Ian Middleton, really well, he is a friend of ours.” Bred by Don and Dame Wendy Pye, War Princess was offered through Haunui Farm’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft, where she was purchased by Ian Middleton, under his Exempt Bloodstock banner, and Peter Didham Racing for $77,500. She made an instant impact on the track as a juvenile, winning her first two starts before finishing 11th in the $550,000 Group One  Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). She returned as a three-year-old where she won three of her seven starts, including the $100,000 Group Three Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and was runner-up in the $80,000 Listed The O’Learys Fillies Stakes (1340m). The daughter of U S Navy Flag was fourth in last month’s $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie and trainers Peter and Trent Didham are excited to prepare her for New Zealand’s richest race at Ellerslie on March 7. “We are rapt to have someone like Tony on board, it’s fantastic,” Peter Didham said. “She deserves it (NZB Kiwi slot), she has won five and is a Group Three winner. It was a huge run in the Karaka Millions, she only got beaten a nose from third by a Group One winner in La Dorada. “We are happy to have secured a spot. We were always targeting that night anyway because if we didn’t get a slot, we were going to the three-year-old 1400m, but it was nice to get it done nice and early.” War Princess has had a quiet time since her Karaka Millions run, and Didham said she is building nicely towards The NZB Kiwi. “She went to Mark Treweeks and had a week on the grass,” he said. “A little foot abscess burst out that night after the race. She had a week on the water treadmill and then came back here.  “She went to the beach on Friday and she is galloping between races at Wanganui. She is on track and looks fantastic.” With Ben Thompson already booked for The NZB Kiwi, Didham has secured the services of Wiremu Pinn, and he said he can’t wait to be part of the big meeting and believes she has a bright future instore. “She is very honest and tries really hard. She is just a lovely horse to train,” Didham said. “She might be a length off those top ones, but I feel next year in the fillies and mares Group races she is going to be right amongst it over 1200 and 1400m.” Tony Rider said he is looking forward to heading to Ellerslie on March 7 to try and replicate the thrill of last year, where he not only bred the first NZB Kiwi winner, but also won the $600,000 Group One HKJC Word Pool New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) with her full-sister Provence (NZ) (Savabeel). “What a fantastic thrill,” Rider said. “Damask Rose won the Karaka Millions 3YO and then came out and won The NZB Kiwi, and on the same day having the full-sister win was amazing. We had an amazing day,” Rider said. – New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Did you see? View the full article

I don't have her improving from the Guineas at all in her two runs this year. On my ratings her runs this year are exactly the same. Older horse good R75 level and maybe open class competitive. Lengths off Well Written. How do you reach a conclusion that she has improved a lot?

They all have a chance as @Chief Stipe said. Even Black Caviar might have gone amiss in a race. If you can assess that chance more accurately than the bookies, then you can make a profit. That's the fundamental principal behind successful punting.