Hong Kong hero Ka Ying Rising earned confirmation of his global superstar status and a comparison to his trainer's former champion Better Loosen Up in storming to victory in the Oct. 18 The Everest (G1) at Randwick Racecourse.
The world's highest-rated sprinter now has the world's richest sprint title to show for it, after racing in third place, charging past leader Overpass at the 200 meters, and coming away to win by 1 1/4 lengths in the 1,200-meter (about 6-furlong) event.
Godolphin filly Tempted, the race's sole 3-year-old, produced a mighty effort to finish second, while Jimmysstar sustained a long run to finish third, a further neck away. Overpass clung on for fourth.
By Windsor Park Stud's relatively modest, fertility-challenged sire Shamexpress, the 5-year-old gelding has now won 15 of his 17 starts—the last 14 on the bounce—with his earnings leaping past US$12 million with Saturday's US$4.5 million injection from the world's richest race on turf, and its second-richest race behind the US$20 million Saudi Cup (G1).
And it was an emotional trainer David Hayes who breathed a sigh of delighted relief following the win, after almost a month of intense media scrutiny since Ka Ying Rising's arrival in Sydney, especially surrounding a moderate-looking third in a Randwick barrier trial Oct. 7.
"So relieved, but when he saddled up calm he had to really run below form not to win today," Hayes said. "But I couldn't say that, I couldn't be cocky (but) I would've been so disappointed if he didn't win when he saddled up calm."
Hayes put Ka Ying Rising on a level with Better Loosen Up, his former champion middle distance galloper who won eight times at the highest level, including the Japan Cup (G1) in 1990.
"Better Loosen Up was the last world champion horse I've trained, and this one is the next one," the Hong Kong-based Australian said.
"There's been a lot of good horses in between but these are the two stars."
In a rare event on a racecourse—especially before a race—rider Zac Purton revealed Ka Ying Rising had been roundly booed by mostly young and rowdy racegoers amongst the sell-out crowd of around 46,000 as he made his way to the starting gates.
"The crowd did a good job of trying to buzz him up before the race," said Purton, the Australian who's won eight Hong Kong riding titles.
"I didn't expect them to boo him and be as vocal as they were when he came out on the track, and it was all the way until we got to the end of the crowd.
"But he handled it really well, I was really impressed with that.
"I just love him. He's just such a nice horse to ride."
Hayes, who has also trained such outstanding gallopers as Miss Finland, Criterion, Jeune, and Primacy, was in an ebullient mood after the weight-for-age slot race.
"It's an absolute thrill," he said. "I can't wait to watch the replay and enjoy it. It's a long straight isn't it, when you hit the front with 300 meters to go?
"But I think he held up pretty well. Great ride by Zac.
"I actually would've been shattered had he lost today, truth be known, when he was so calm an hour before the race.
"It's certainly the biggest thrill of my life, and it's been the longest 10 days in my life."
Ka Ying Rising's mere presence brought the ninth Everest a genuine international flavor for the first time.
Asked what the victory meant for Hong Kong racing, Hayes said: "I think it will be wonderful. He's the pin-up boy there."
Just as Hayes opined that "there's more to come with this horse," Purton said Ka Ying Rising had won despite being below his best.
"I don't think we saw him (Ka Ying Rising) at his best today but even though he wasn't at his best he's still good enough."
The 40-year-old Purton became emotional when comparing Ka Ying Rising to the other Hong Kong superstar with whom he formed a partnership, eight-time elite victor Beauty Generation.
"To have one champion I rode in my career, I thought that was unbelievable for me," he said. "And now to have one come along that could be even better, right at this moment it really does hit home.
"You become a bit emotional. You appreciate it more now because it (my career) is nearly over, but I'm so lucky. I've had such a good career and so lucky to have this horse come along now."
Bred in New Zealand by his original trainer Fraser Auret, Ka Ying Rising was sold after a trial to Hayes' Victoria-based sons, Ben, Will, and J.D.
After two jump-outs and a trial, the brothers alerted their father that they had a horse worthy of Hong Kong. He went to the territory, won his first start as a 3-year-old in December 2023, ran narrow seconds at his next two, and hasn't been beaten since.
Ka Ying Rising is the best of only two foals borne of five-time winner Missy Moo before she was euthanized due to crippling arthritis.
The star sprinter's year-younger half brother Ka Ying Glory has run one second from three starts for David Hayes in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Englebrecht-Bresges was on course to cheer home Ka Ying Rising. The HKJC acquired a AU$700,000 slot, in partnership with the Australian Turf Club, to race the gelding in the Everest.
"I think Hong Kong has two global stars," he said. "One is Romantic Warrior, who has proved himself internationally. Now, Ka Ying Rising has done the same and it's extremely important when you see how many people in Hong Kong watch this race. It is now the people's horse.
"It's extremely important to show that Hong Kong is a global city, that we have one of the best horses in the world and that we can help to create a global atmosphere, because the atmosphere today is absolutely astonishing and fascinating.
"For us, the money for the slot is not important. For us, what we want to create is global racing at its best and therefore we need strategic partners who embrace the same vision we have. We have this here."
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