Hong Kong Horse of the Year (2024/25) Ka Ying Rising breezed effortlessly through his first official barrier trial this morning (Friday, 22 August) on Sha Tin’s dirt course ahead of a return to racing on Sunday, 7 September followed by his historic bid to scale the world’s richest turf race in Australia.

Aiming to win a second straight HK$3.72 million Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) at the 2025/26 season’s curtain-raiser next month, Ka Ying Rising couldn’t have been more impressive as he sauntered across the finishing line by 14 and a quarter lengths in a time of 59.26s (1050m) today under trusted ally Zac Purton for dual Hong Kong Champion Trainer (1997/98 & 1998/99) David Hayes.

Purton said: “You’d like to think he’s going to do it easily against those horses. It’s good to have him back out there going through his routine. He was on the wrong leg on the corner, it’s a bit frustrating how he does that, but apart from that it was all good.

“He can get on the wrong leg and then in the straight he doesn’t change legs. The problem is it’s always been very easy for him in the mornings. When he gallops, he won’t change his legs because he’s just floating along and then on race day, he has got into a habit of doing the same thing.”

A winner of his last 12 consecutive races, Ka Ying Rising dominated across an invincible eight-race 2024/25 campaign, headlined by two course records at Sha Tin over 1200m and four elite level successes: 2024 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), 2025 G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m), 2025 G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and 2025 G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m).

“He’s not fit, so he’s not going to feel at his best at the moment. He needed the trial and he’s going to improve from it. He was feeling it, which is good. Now he’s got to improve. We just wanted to see him come back nice and he’s done that. So that’s a first step. It’s a long way to go,” Purton said.

Five-year-old Ka Ying Rising, rated 134 locally with HK$65.97 million banked, spent the off-season recharging at Conghua before returning to Sha Tin last week for today’s barrier trial as preparations ramp up towards his first race outside of Hong Kong on 18 October in Sydney, Australia: AU$20 million (approx. HK$100.34 million) G1 The Everest (1200m).

Ka Ying Rising will trial once more at Sha Tin on Saturday, 30 August. Group 1 winners Private Harry, Briasa and Jimmysstar also have slots in the lucrative showdown Down Under at Royal Randwick. Ka Ying Rising is expected to trial in Sydney before the race.

Lucky Sweynesse also tuned up this morning before his HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup tilt at Sha Tin, clocking a hard-fought 1m 09.29s over 1200m on the dirt – again with a set of blinkers applied – under rider Derek Leung for trainer Manfred Man. 

Leung said: “His action is good and everything is fine. This is first time back trialling, so he’s a bit heavy and a bit fat. His fitness should be better after this trial. I could feel his action was fine but he just needed a blow. It’s normal for every horse coming back.”

Lucky Sweynesse is entered for 28 September’s G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) in Japan, a race won by Hong Kong-trained runners Silent Witness (2005) and Ultra Fantasy (2010).

“We still need to see how he runs on the first day. Everything is fine right now,” Leung said.

Chancheng Glory and Self Improvement are preparing to race in South Korea on 7 September. Both horses trialled today with Jerry Chau, who is booked to partner the pair at Seoul – a racecourse characterised by its deep sand surface with ample kickback.

Self Improvement finished first in the second trial this morning, clocking 1m 09.34s (1200m), while the American-bred Chancheng Glory was eighth in 1m 11.01s behind Lucky Sweynesse.

Francis Lui’s Chancheng Glory takes aim at the KRW1.6 billion (approx. HK$9.4 million) G3 Korea Cup (1800m, sand), while Manfred Man’s Self Improvement rises for the KRW1.4 billion (approx. HK$8.23 million) G3 Korea Sprint (1200m, sand).

Lui said: “It’s early in the season and after the break, so he (Chancheng Glory) needs to improve. Everything is confirmed and he will depart on the 28th (of August). It’s my owner’s decision and there’s no harm in trying.”

Both races at Seoul offer automatic and free entry for their winners into the 2025 Breeders’ Cup (31 October-1 November) at Del Mar in California, the United States of America.

Japan’s Dura Erede, Ramjet and Diktaean have been selected for the Korea Cup alongside Chancheng Glory. Japan could also field Tagano Beauty, Sunrise Hawk and Chikappa in the Korea Sprint, each of whom are chosen along with Self Improvement.

The United States of America’s Post Time (Korea Cup) and Bentornato (Korea Sprint) have also been selected to run at Seoul’s Group 3 double-header.