Ka Ying Rising Goes for 18 Straight Wins in Hong Kong

Ka Ying Rising (NZ), the world's top-rated sprinter, seeks a Hong Kong record 18th straight win in the Feb. 22 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (G1) at Sha Tin Racecourse and finds little standing in his way. Nine rivals are entered for the 1,400-meter (about 7-furlong) sprint. None has laid a glove on Ka Ying Rising in earlier challenges. "The expectation is for him to win," said Ka Ying Rising's trainer, David Hayes. "You just want him to and not let everyone down. But he hasn't, and the way he trialed recently, I don't think he's going to." If Ka Ying Rising were to produce a subpar effort, the most likely beneficiaries could be Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) or Helios Express. Lucky Sweynesse was the king of the Hong Kong sprinters before an injury shortened his 2024-25 season to just two starts. He hasn't won since, but showed tremendous comeback promise in the Jan. 25 Stewards' Cup (G1), leading into midstretch before gradually yielding to superstar Romantic Warrior (IRE). He then held off another of Hong Kong's best, Voyage Bubble (AUS), to claim second. Distance is a factor here, especially with Lucky Sweynesse performing so well in the 1,600-meter (about 1-mile) Stewards' Cup. Ka Ying Rising is a 1,200-meter (about 6-furlong) specialist, with 16 of the 17 races in his streak coming at that distance. On the flip side of that, the other victory in the skein was the 2025 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup, by 1 1/2 lengths over the talented Helios Express, who persists. While 18 consecutive wins would be a rare accomplishment, it would not come without an emotional twist, as when Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth's home run record in 1961. In this case, it would be Silent Witness whose mark would fall to the No. 2 spot in the record books. Silent Witness was a beloved presence in Hong Kong as he built his record from December 2002 through April 2005. Neither horse ducked tough competition in building his win streak, either. Silent Witness won the Hong Kong Sprint (G1), Centenary Sprint Cup, and Chairman's Sprint Prize twice each and the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup. A victory in the Sprinters Stakes in Japan in 2005 was the cherry atop his sundae. Still building his legacy, Ka Ying Rising is a two-time winner of the Hong Kong Sprint and Centenary Sprint Cup and also has won the Chairman's Sprint Prize and the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup. He saw and raised Silent Witness' Japan win when he spanked Australia's best sprinters in the Everest (G1) on their home turf in October of 2025.