Everything went as expected on Tuesday morning (24 March) for Ka Ying Rising as the eight-time Group 1 winner cruised through a barrier trial in preparation for 6 April’s HK$5.35 million G2 Sprint Cup (1200m), where he’ll attempt to secure a record-extending 19th consecutive win.

Trained by David Hayes, Ka Ying Rising clocked a trial-best 57.62s (1000m) in the eight-runner first heat down Sha Tin’s turf straight – a neck in front of Beauty Waves – under championship-leading rider Zac Purton, who confirmed the sprinter’s wellbeing.

Purton said: “He’s going really well. It’s good to be back on him. It was a nice little hit-out for him – he’ll run again in a few weeks, getting ready for (FWD) Champions Day.”

Beauty Waves found the early lead before Ka Ying Rising swept effortlessly past him from fourth position. Successful in his past 18 races in Hong Kong and Australia, Ka Ying Rising is currently the world’s top-rated horse after the March edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings was released.

After the Sprint Cup, Ka Ying Rising will go for a second HK$24 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) win on FWD Champions Day (26 April), which serves as the final leg of the HK$5 million Hong Kong Speed Series, comprising the HK$13 million G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) and HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m).

Hayes said: “He was nice and relaxed. There were a couple of horses who put a bit of pressure on, but he stretched and got to them very easily – he won as you’d expect.

“I wanted to trial him down the straight because you never know; he might go down the straight somewhere. It’s a good experience for him, and he’s going back from 1400 to 1200 (metres), so he didn’t need a hard trial, hence why I put him over 1000.”

Ka Ying Rising – who last trialled over 1000m on turf at Sha Tin last August prior to today – earned the Hong Kong Speed Series HK$5 million bonus last season, joining Mr Vitality (1995/96), Grand Delight (2002/03), Silent Witness (2003/04 & 2004/05) and Lucky Sweynesse (2022/23) as past recipients. His 18 successive wins is a record for a Hong Kong-trained horse having surpassed the previous mark set by Silent Witness (17).

Beauty Waves is also entered for Easter Monday’s Sprint Cup, a fixture that hosts the HK$5.35 million G2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m), which is where Lucky Sweynesse heads after trialling in 1m 36.81s over 1600m on turf under Derek Leung.

“He was good – he jumped nicely, and he knows what to do. It went smoothly – he was comfortable, and he came back well. He was just second to Romantic Warrior (in the Stewards’ Cup, G1, 1600m), but he should be ready after this trial for the Group 2 and then the Group 1 (FWD Champions Mile, 1600m),” Leung said.

Two horses carrying the iconic Silent Witness silks, Conspiracy Witness (131lb) and Honest Witness (123lb), feature on Wednesday (25 March) at Happy Valley for Hayes. 

Hayes said: “Conspiracy Witness has got back to Class 5, and he’s been crying out for more distance. Hopefully, he can stay a bit.” 

Conspiracy Witness tackles the Class 5 Tuen Mun Handicap (2200m) under Irish ace Dylan Browne McMonagle, whose short-term contract concludes tomorrow after commencing on 1 January.

Browne McMonagle has 10 winners from 138 rides in Hong Kong.

He said: “It’s been super – I’ve had plenty of support from a lot of different yards. It’s been a great experience, and I’d love to come back as well.”

Hayes saddles eight runners at Happy Valley, including Metro Power (128lb) in the Class 3 Kwu Tung Handicap (1200m) with James Orman booked.

“He has a very awkward gate (11), but he’s a fast horse, and he’ll race on the pace and make his own luck. He’s turned into a nice Happy Valley horse – he’s had a win and a second there,” Hayes said.

Luke Ferraris is seeking consecutive wins with Symbol Of Strength (135lb) in the Kwu Tung Handicap for trainer Frankie Lor. The 78-rated Kodiac gelding breaks from barrier four in the 12-runner finale at the city circuit.

“His form had suggested that he was improving with each and every run. Then he found a race where things worked out for him and he was able to get it done,” Ferraris said. “It’s nice to see him come along the way he has and win for his well-deserving owners.”

Wednesday’s (25 March) nine-race fixture at Happy Valley kicks off at 6.40pm with the Class 5 Tuen Mun Handicap (2200m).