David Hayes' Ka Ying Rising sprints to Hong Kong success
Trainer David Hayes
The David-Hayes-trained Ka Ying Rising claimed a Group One victory in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin.
The four-year-old was tipped to do well in this dash to the finish after winning on his last seven outings and he also broke a course record during his last run prior to this success.
He was slow to break for Zac Purton on this move up in company, with the rider having to push him along early to get settled on the heels of pacesetter California Spangle.
When Purton gave the signal, Ka Ying Rising moved to the front but rather than sprinting clear, he had to battle the late charges of Helios Express and Satono Reve to secure the win.
Ralph Beckett’s British raider Starlust could not add to his Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint triumph, racing on the heels of the leaders before dropping back in the straight.
Purton said of the David Hayes-trained winner: “It wasn’t smooth, something lunged at the gate just before we went and it took his mind off it, he turned his head so was a little bit slow to step.
“Victor The Winner bore down my neck the whole way and he never really relaxed as well as he has, he was working the whole way.
“The win was better than it looked, he jumped something in the straight as well that took his mind off it but he’s a special horse.
“He wasn’t at his best today, he’s better than this but still got the job done.”
Voyage Bubble added a second Group One to his tally in the Longines Hong Kong Mile.
Trained by Ricky Yiu and ridden by James McDonald, the six-year-old travelled well throughout and seized the initiative with two furlongs to run.
Soul Rush tried his best to reel him back in the final strides but after having to settle for second in the Mile last year, Voyage Bubble was not for beating this time.
French runner Lazzat fared best of the European raiders, with Harry Eustace’s Docklands and the James Ferguson-trained Ramadan down the field.
