Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Nothing to worry about
Champion jockey Zac Purton was back on board Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) for Sunday’s G2 Sprint Cup, in his first day of race rides since breaking his toe in a fall in early February. And it was business as usual with another thrilling performance by the 4-year-old gelding. The form was further franked by a Group 1 win in Japan by Satono Reve (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) on Sunday afternoon, who finished third to Ka Ying Rising in the December’s G1 Hong Kong Sprint in his previous start.
“The leader (California Spangle) today didn’t go as fast as I was hoping he would go. I travelled a bit stronger than I would have liked and with the extra weight on his back, I didn’t want to sit around and wait for the others, so I sent him for home early and he just let him do what he does,” Purton told hkjc.com.
“He was always cruising and he didn’t give us a moment of worry and that’s the good thing about him.”
With 11 wins in succession, Ka Ying Rising is now third on the all-time list in Hong Kong behind Silent Witness (El Moxie {USA}) who won 17 in a row and Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) whose best unbeaten streak was 16. Co-Tack (Top Role) and Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road To Rock) sit in equal fourth with 10 each.
“It’s nice to come back and ride a horse like him. He’s a pleasure to do anything with, he’s really relaxed going to the gates and behind the gates now. He just does everything you want him to do,” said Purton.
Ka Ying Rising was the headline act in a treble for Zac Purton, who also won on Jamie Richards-trained La Forza (Toronado {Ire}) and Benno Yung’s Another World (Kermadec {NZ}).
Ka Ying Rising (NZ) clears away to win the G1 Sprint Cup on Sunday | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
On schedule for The Everest
Trainer David Hayes reiterated the plan for Ka Ying Rising. He heads to the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin on FWD Champions Day, Sunday, April 27 before a probable tilt at the G1 The Everest in Sydney in October.
“He jumped with them and really controlled the race. Zac thought he could’ve waited a bit longer but he just thought he’d put it out of the question and he did – it was just wonderful,” said Hayes.
“Even Zac’s starting to acknowledge the horse’s ability now. It took a while but he’s starting to say he’s quite special and he really is. He runs those times with ease. The way he looks and the way he’s behaving, he is improving his manners – clearly his ability has been there the whole time.
“He (Ka Ying Rising) runs those times with ease. The way he looks and the way he’s behaving, he is improving his manners – clearly his ability has been there the whole time.” - David Hayes
“He’s developing into a more foolproof horse. Today, he took the sit. He doesn’t have to lead – he’s alright with a sit and he’s alright leading, so he’s a beauty. This was a stepping stone because it was a handicap and he had to give five pounds away but the (Chairman’s Sprint Prize) is set weights and that’s his grand final. It’s what he’s been set for the whole year and if he achieves it, it would be the perfect season.”
Dr Henry Chan presents the Sprint Cup to David Hayes | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Poon celebrates biggest success in Chairman’s Trophy
Jockey Matthew Poon celebrated his biggest career victory aboard 6-year-old gelding Straight Arron (Fastnet Rock) in Sunday’s G2 Chairman’s Trophy over 1600 metres. A graduate of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School, Poon had previously won up to Group 3 level and has ridden 261 winners in Hong Kong. He also rode 117 winners in Australia during a stint there as an apprentice for Richard Jolly and was the South Australia Champion Apprentice in 2015/16.
“That’s why I am so excited after the line because this is my first Group 2, so I have got to thank the trainer Ricky and the owner for giving me their good support,” Poon said.
“It’s so great I can win on him. Before the race, I already had a feeling I can get something today, so really lucky and excited.”
Straight Arron is owned by Karen Lo, who won last Sunday’s Listed Hong Kong Derby with Cap Ferrat (Snitzel) and trainer Ricky Yiu was surprised by the result especially as Straight Arron hadn’t won since 2023.
“It was an unbelievable result – a big surprise. The first half of the race didn’t really suit him at the tail and over the mile, I thought it will be a touch sharp for him. He still managed to run through on the rail with the jockey,” Yiu said.
“We were walking with the horse and he (Poon) said to me ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if he finished in the first three’. I said ‘it would be a big surprise, especially over the trip’. At this stage, most likely Champions Day over the mile (next). There’s only two options – 2000 (metres) or mile.”
Straight Arron has won seven of his 29 starts, with his last win coming in the G2 Jockey Club Cup over 2000 metres in November 2023. He was a winner on debut in Australia at three, and won the G3 Carbine Club Stakes at this third start. Sold by Torryburn Stud for $270,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale to Chris Waller, he was a private sale to Hong Kong later.
Straight Arron (orange cap) drives up the rail in the G2 Chairman's Trophy on Sunday | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
One of 195 stakes winners for Fastnet Rock, Straight Arron is the second foal of G1 Queensland Oaks-placed Imperial Lass (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) who has a yearling colt by Zoustar and whose 2-year-old filly Wiltshire Lass (Wootton Bassett {GB}) sold for $500,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale last year. This is the family of La Sizeranne (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), Za Moulin Rouge (Street Cry {Ire}), and Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Doubles for Toronado and Wrote
On the Group 2 undercard, local stallions Toronado (Ire) and Wrote (Ire) both achieved doubles. Fast Network (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) turned heads for trainer Dennis Yip with his previous owner, and former Hong Kong trainer, Paul O’Sullivan in the city for a visit. “My brother (Lance) and I owned him. He had a couple of trials and was then sold to Hong Kong,” O’Sullivan told scmp.com.
The 4-year-old gelding has won his last two in succession and in total has five wins from 10 starts, all in Hong Kong. His upcoming plans are uncertain with Yip contemplating a late entry for the G1 Champion’s Sprint Prize on April 27. Fast Network is out of Alberta (NZ) (Magic Albert) who is a half-sister to Listed winner Gustavo (NZ) (Savabeel).
The other Wrote winner was 3-year-old gelding South Star (NZ) who earned his first victory at his third start. South Star is the second foal of Wild Rock (Fastnet Rock).
Toronado’s two winners were 3-year-old La Forza, who has now won two in succession, and debutant 3-year-old Little Paradise, and both are out of Star Witness mares. “(La Forza) is going well. He’s a horse who raced as a Griffin and he’s just needed a little bit of time to toughen up,” trainer Jamie Richards said.
“It’s always hard for a horse to win when they’re coming off a 10-pound penalty, but he’s come out and delivered again today. Whatever he does this season is going to be a bonus for what I think he’ll be able to do next season as a 4-year-old. At the moment (I’ll keep him to 1000 metres) but in time he will get further. I don’t think we need to be changing a winning formula at the moment. I’m looking forward to the future with him.”
La Forza has won three of his five starts in Hong Kong and was purchased by Jamie Richards Racing and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) for $310,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from Vinery Stud. La Forza is the second winner for Minetti (Star Witness) who is a winning daughter of G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes winner La Italia (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}).
Little Paradise won on debut for trainer Jimmy Ting. “He’s a nice horse. He still isn’t mature,” Ting said of the horse who was purchased privately after winning a Randwick trial for trainer Bjorn Baker. Prior to that he was a $270,000 purchase by Dullingham and Legends Bloodstock at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from the draft of Carramar Park.
“He drew wide and got keen when the jockey pushed him out. After this race he will improve. I’ll keep him to 1200 metres for now because he’s still young and I think he’ll be better as a 4-year-old. We don’t need to hurry for the next race, he’ll probably have a trial to learn more and run again six weeks from now.”
He is the fourth foal, and only winner, of Devil In Her Heart (Star Witness) who doesn’t have a yearling this year and has a colt foal by Farnan. Devil In Her Heart is an unraced half-sister to Group 2 winner Olentia (Zoustar), Group 3 winner Wandabaa (Wandjina) and Listed winner Malkovich (Choisir).
