Ka Ying Rising Brings Up 17 Straight With Centenary Sprint Cup Victory

[Wandering Eyes]

Reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Ka Ying Rising picked up where he left off with a tally in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday. The son of Shamexpress equaled Hong Kong legend Silent Witness's mark of 17-straight wins for a Hong Kong-trained horse with his victory in the first leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series.

Sent off at 1-100 for his attempt at history, the bay bounced straight to the head of affairs, before relaxing as Beauty Waves (Starspangledbanner) passed him heading into the turn. Swung two deep, he kicked past that rival in a few strides at the 400-metre mark and won geared down by 1 1/4 lengths. Helios Express (Toronado) gave his best and cut into the margin late on, but he was always chasing in vane. Fast Network (Wrote), third to Ka Ying Rising in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint Stakes in December, was another two lengths back in third.

“The winning margin wasn't probably the greatest, but it's probably the most Zac [Purton] has ever eased him down, so, he had a very easy last 200 metres and he dominated as the market suggested he would,” said trainer David Hayes. Just nice to see him do it.”

Added Purton, “What can I say? We've said it all with the horse. I just had to make sure my bloke was in a rhythm. I'm surprised he ran the time he ran because it didn't feel like he ran that quickly sort of mid-early in the race. Yeah, he's just different class.

“I never thought I would see it [a record-equaling 17th win in a row], to be honest. It's very, very 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. It's pretty nice when you look at the big screen and you're a long way in front, I can tell you.

The remaining races of the Hong Kong Sprint Series are the 1400-metre G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup on February 22 and Ka Ying Rising's next target, as well as the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize on April 26.

Said Purton of his mount's next intended start, “He's got a big race next time, obviously he goes up in distance but he's up for it.”

Said Hayes, “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. 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.”

In his long skein of victories, the G1 Everest hero returned to Sha Tin in November and added the G2 Jockey Club Sprint, before another win in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint on the Longines Hong Kong International Races last month.

Pedigree Notes

The gelding is one of 16 stakes winners, 11 at group level for Shamexpress, a son of O'Reilly. His other Group 1 winner is Coventina Bay, who has the Herbie Dyke Stakes and New Zealand Stakes to her credit.

The first and best foal out of the dual winner Missy Moo (Per Incanto), Ka Ying Rising has a year-younger half-brother Ka Ying Glory (Turn Me Loose) who has placed in Hong Kong.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
CENTENARY SPRINT CUP-G1, HK$13,000,000, Sha Tin, 1-25, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:07.66, 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; T-David A
Hayes; J-Zac Purton; HK$7,280,000. Lifetime Record: HotY-HK,
Ch. Sprinter-HK, G1SW-Aus, 20-18-2-0, HK$15,942,817. Werk
   Nick Rating: A++. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Helios Express (Aus), 126, g, 6, Toronado (Ire)–Paris Texas
(Aus), by Hinchinbrook (Aus). O-Andy Yung Ming Tai; B-C
Wells; T-John Size; J-Hugh Bowman; HK$2,730,000.
3–Fast Network (NZ), 126, g, 6, Wrote (Ire)–Alberta (NZ), by
Magic Albert (Aus). (NZ$30,000 Ylg '22 NZBMAR). O-Ng Hung
Yau; B-K A Gillovic (NZ); T-Dennis C Y Yip; J-James McDonald;
HK$1,495,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 2, NK. Odds: 0.10, 76.00, 64.00.
Also Ran: Raging Blizzard (NZ), Tomodachi Kokoroe (Aus), Lucky With You (Aus), Beauty Waves (Ire). Click for the HKJC chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO.

 

 

17 IN A ROW!

The amazing KA YING RISING equals Silent Witness' record with an easy victory in the Centenary Sprint Cup under @zpurton! pic.twitter.com/cN2y4agion

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 25, 2026

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