Ka Ying Rising Goes For History In Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup

[Wandering Eyes]

Currently the reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year, Ka Ying Rising sits on the cusp of history. Tied with Hong Kong wunderkind Silent Witness on 17 consecutive wins by a Hong Kong-trained horse, the son of Shamexpress could set his own record in the 1400-metre G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday. A last out winner of the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup in January, he faces nine rivals.

Trainer David Hayes said, “I'm very excited about the opportunity to try and break Silent Witness's record. His gallop was good – it was just his usual Ka Ying Rising gallop, and he's very much in his routine, and it seems to suit him.

“He's only run at 1400 metres (7f) once and that was in this race last year. I know he'll run it and I know he's better this year than he was last year. If they go too fast in the race he'll sit second or third and if they go too slow, he'll lead.

“Zac [Purton] is very uncomplicated on him. I'm excited and I'm really looking forward to it – I'll be a bit nervous on the day as I always am, but it's a very surreal feeling in a Group 1 saddling a horse who is a one-dollar favourite. Not many trainers get to do that, and I can tell you it's not as easy as it looks.”

Reflecting on the opposition, Hayes said, “Helios Express is better suited at this distance against Ka Ying Rising. It's a good distance for him; Lucky Sweynesse is back in form, but if it was a handicap, Ka Ying Rising would be giving some of them 20 pounds – he will be short in the market and, well, he probably should be.”

Among his challengers is John Size trainee Helios Express (Toronado), who was second to the heavy favourite in the Centenary Sprint Cup in January, while Size stablemate Raging Blizzard (Per Incanto) was fourth.

Cutting back from 1600 metres where he was second to Hong Kong legend Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) in the G1 Stewards' Cup is Lucky Sweynesse. Booked against the fence, two to the inside of Ka Ying Rising, the son of Sweynesse is joined by G2 Jockey Club Mile hero Galaxy Patch (Wandjina), who was seventh behind Romantic Warrior last month.

Group 1 Racing Returns To Japan

A GI Breeders' Cup Classic berth is on the line in the G1 February Stakes, as racing at the highest tier returns to Japan after a January break.

Returning to defend his title is Costa Rising (Lord Kanaloa), who carried jockey Rachel King into the history books as the first female rider to win a JRA Group 1 contest. Since his triumph last year, he enjoyed an up-and-down campaign, but did finish second in the G3 Musashino Stakes at Tokyo in November. Christophe Lemaire replaces King, who instead is booked on multiple group winner Sakura Toujours (Neo Universe).

Assistant trainer Yu Ota said of the defending champion, “Prior to his last race, his balance was a bit off, and his weak point is his right hindquarters. It's taken some time to get things right with him. We'll start to up his training from now, but he's a tough character who doesn't give up easily.”

Carrying the lightest impost in the 16-strong field is W Heart Bond at 123 pounds. The five-year-old mare, a daughter of Kizuna, won the G1 Champions Cup by the narrowest of margins from Wilson Tesoro (Kitasan Black). However, she does have dual G1 Saudi Cup-winning jockey Ryusei Sakai aboard, fresh off his Saudi Arabian success with Forever Young (Real Steel). She would be the second mare to win in the 42-year history of the race and the first since Hokuto Vega (Nagurski) in 1996.

“After the Champions Cup, we considered the options for her, including overseas, but have set our sights on the February Stakes,” said trainer Ryuji Okubo. “She didn't pull in her last race, and with the speed she has, she was able to take up a good position, before battling it out at the finish. She should be fine over the 1,600 meters at Tokyo.”

Sixpence (Kizuna), a three-time Group 2 scorer in Japan, will give retiring trainer Sakae Kunieda his final Group 1 starter when he lines up on Sunday. Associated with Apapane (King Kamehameha) and Almond Eye (Lord Kanaloa) among others, Kunieda is retiring this spring.

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