A long-time ally of David Hayes in Australia, Craig Williams hopes to upstage the dual Hong Kong champion trainer’s outstanding sprinter Ka Ying Rising at Sha Tin on Sunday (19 January) when he rides Magic Control in the HK$13 million G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m).

Williams, 47, combined with Hayes to land a string of Group 1 races in Australia, where he is revered for his feat in landing the nation’s racing ‘Grand Slam’ with victories in the Melbourne Cup (3200m), Caulfield Cup (2400m), Cox Plate (2040m) and Golden Slipper (1200m).

With 123 victories in Hong Kong, including the 2011 G1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) on French stayer Dunaden, Williams is hoping to add to the tally this weekend with eight rides, including Chater Gold and Aurio for Hayes.

But his primary focus is Magic Control’s tilt at Sha Tin track record-holder Ka Ying Rising, who is chasing a second Group 1 and bidding to extend his current unbeaten streak to nine races after triumph in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) last month.

“He (Ka Ying Rising) looks very good and David knows what a good sprinter is,” said Williams, who partnered top Hayes-trained horses such as Miss Finland, Fields Of Omagh, Criterion, Vega Magic and Niconero.

“He (Ka Ying Rising) won an international sprint race and that’s a targeted race and the talk was he should have won by more – but he won. That’s how good he is.

“People were complaining that he didn’t win by far enough. But that shows you how much they think of this horse, that’s how impressive he is.”

Williams rides Magic Control for the first time and is familiar with the former Australian speedster’s form in Melbourne, where he won the G3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley and the Listed Poseidon Stakes (1100m) in 2023 when trained by Matt Laurie.

“I know in Hong Kong he (Magic Control) hasn’t gone out beyond 1000 metres, but in Australia he won two Stakes races, including one at 1200m, so that gives me confidence,” Williams said.

“His trainer Cody Mo is going really well, he’s having a great season, especially recently and he’s obviously gaining a really good handle on this horse, but it’s not going to be a walk in the park.

“It’s far from that when you’ve got a horse that won one of the world’s biggest international sprint races and he lines up on Sunday.”

Apart from Ka Ying Rising, Magic Control will face Victor The Winner, Helios Express, Howdeepisyourlove, Invincible Sage, Lucky With You and Beauty Waves.

The Centenary Sprint Cup is the first race in the Hong Kong Speed Series, which carries a HK$5 million bonus for any horse able to also win the HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) on 23 February and the HK$22 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) on 27 April.

Ricky Yiu is confident Voyage Bubble can continue his outstanding form when last month’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) victor resumes in the HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) this weekend.

“He’s a happy horse, full of beans, fresh. He’s as good as gold,” Yiu said. “I’m pretty confident that he will do well again. It’s a small field and James McDonald is the best jockey – he knows him well and the horse has kept his form well. That’s the main thing.”

Voyage Bubble is pitted against fellow Group 1 winners California Spangle and Beauty Eternal as well as Beauty Joy, Galaxy Patch, Chancheng Glory, Red Lion and Patch Of Theta.

The Stewards’ Cup is the first leg of the Triple Crown series, which carries a HK$10 million bonus for any horse able to also win the HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) on 23 February and the HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) on 25 May.

Sunday’s (19 January) 11-race card at Sha Tin starts with the Class 4 Beat The Clock Handicap (1200m) at 12.30pm.