Ka Ying Rising Wins 21st Straight, On to The Everest

If Ka Ying Rising (NZ) left any question after his course-record, gate-to-wire, 21st consecutive victory in his seasonal debut Sept. 6 at Sha Tin Racecourse, it might be, how much farther can he actually rise? Trainer David Hayes and jockey Zac Purton envision plenty of potential still on tap, starting with the 6-year-old's next assignment in The Everest (G1), Australia's premier sprint and the world's richest grass race. He won that a year ago despite, per Hayes, not being at his best. He certainly was much the best in the HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup Handicap (G3). After taking the early lead in the 1,200-meter (about 6-furlong) contest, Purton let Ka Ying Rising run as he pleased and, despite not asking him in the final 100 meters, Ka Ying Rising won by 7 3/4 lengths. His time of 1:06.11 eclipsed his own course record by :0.99. It was the fifth time he has lowered that record. Into the bargain, the gelding shook off a minor health episode. He spent the best part of a day early in the week undergoing comprehensive testing after bruising a foot in his stall. Now, about that potential improvement? "We've both said that he's a bigger, stronger horse (after the summer break) and that didn't mean he came back fat," Purton said. "He came back physically more developed and stronger, and he's feeling great. He hasn't raced since April, so any amount of racing is going to improve him. "I'm not going to stand there and say he's going to improve lengths off that. And I said before, he doesn't need to. But I'm sure he's going to pull up better for the run... I sort of let him really get into his rhythm and I asked him for an effort, so I just wanted to see where we were at and, obviously, we're in a good place." Hayes said it would be a mistake to downgrade the opposition Ka Ying Rising embarrassed in the race. "There could be people out there saying he beat nothing," the trainer said. "But a few of those horses have won 20 or 25 million Hong Kong dollars. They're well-rated horses. They're group horses around the world, but they don't look it when they race him. They get taken out of their comfort zone." Hayes said it was a lesson learned from his trip to Australia in 2025. "We had him far too fresh arriving in Sydney," he said. "I don't like to change much when they win like that, so we'll just continue with a bit more base work and that's holding him in better stead for when he arrives, mentally. It's more about mentally not arriving too fresh." For all of that, Ka Ying Rising won The Everest in 2025 by 1 1/4 lengths, tested but not seriously threatened by Australia's best. And, speaking of group horses around the world, Ka Ying Rising is currently tied for the top spot on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, alongside Ombudsman (IRE), both rated 131. Bow Echo (IRE) is pegged at 127, Daryz (FR) and Romantic Warrior (IRE) at 126. That scoring was based on races through Aug. 8. Since then, Ombudsman finished fourth in the Juddmonte International (G1) at York, and both Bow Echo and Romantic Warrior have been retired. Daryz, winner of the 2025 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), teed up his repeat try with a win Sept. 6 at Longchamp in the Prix Foy (G2) and now appears to be Ka Ying Rising's main rival for the pinnacle. Ka Ying Rising's tour de force victory served as a dramatic kickoff for the Hong Kong Jockey Club's 2026-27 season. In the wake of Romantic Warrior's retirement, he will, pending developments, be the main ball-carrier in generating fan interest and defending against foreign contenders on the big international race days. Those big days on the calendar start with the four group 1 events of the Longines Hong Kong International Races Dec. 13 and also include three races at the top level on Champions Day April 25. Another five group 1s are sprinkled through the season. The Hong Kong Derby is scheduled for March 21.