When Ka Ying risesRated the world's best sprinter, started a comfortable victory in the first of three races in Group 1. The Champions Day seemed to be a formulical start on April 27 on the SHA TIN racing route.
It didn't go on like this.
Ka Ying Rising's victory in the Sprint Prize of the Chairman (G1) followed from a 90:1 shock from an furious shock by Red lion Transitions Travel base In the Champions Mile (G1) and Keyboard Defeat favorites forecast in the QE II Cup (G1).
“We want to offer more first-class racing and entertainment, and from the feedback that we have so far, we have definitely achieved this,” said Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of Hong Kong Jockey Club, in his summary of the time of day.
Ka Ying Rising left no doubt about his talent when he completed his 12th victory in the last four in the group 1 and a perfect season 2024-25. The first-class sprinter of the best racing horses in the Longines world will now rest before preparing for his first international test-the Everest (G1) in Australia in autumn.
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“What can you say more?” Commented the winner Zac Purton. “Every time they come here, he produces something special, and he did that again today, and he has not even changed (leads). He quickly lies away.
“He is getting better. He can take a break now and the next one is the gigantic one.”
Purton kept the 4-year-old behind the early speed in the sprint of 1,200 meters (approx. 6-furlong) and started turning it out in the 250-meter mark. He quickly bubbled and won with 2 1/4 lengths, loosened.
Japan's sprint star, Satono Revewent well to take second place.
“The race was very well planned. It started well and I could simply put it in a attractive place in a attractive place with the way the race developed,” said Purton. “I just kept it uncomplicated and let him do his thing.”
Coach David Hayes said Ka Ying Rising showed in a variety of ways and improves and improves when he deals with the best rivals in the world.
“The second horse (Satono Reve) is probably the second best sprinter in the world at the moment, so the shape came out,” said Hayes.
The shape certainly did not come out in the mile, although it would be fair to argue that the red lion should not go to the post for as long, as long as 90-1, since it became second in the same race a year earlier.
This time, however, he looked in front of the Voyage Bubble, which has developed into the dominant local miler since his third place in 2024 champions Mile, with four victories in a row, including the Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1) in December.
Starting from goal no. 12, Jockey Hugh Bowman managed to quickly bring Red Lion forward to save the ground and was in a virtual match race with voyage bubble. The couple fought against the miniature head against the straight down with the Red Lion Holding. Sunlight was a further half length in third place.
“It's fantastic,” said Bowman. “He is a very consistent, brave horse. After I had the opportunity to ride him a few times, I had confidence in him.
Red lion (inside) defeats the voyage bubble to win the FWD master mile
“I didn't really expect to lead, but full recognition (coach John Size) and his team because they published it in a fantastic order, and with a little moisture in the ground it certainly supported its chances and I'm just so proud of him.”
James McDonald, who rode the voyage bubble, only offered: “He was great. I was really proud of his efforts.”
Red Lion belongs to the former chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Ronald Arculli, and his wife Johanna. Arculli also raced a successful international activist Red Cadeaux.
The QE II Cup was to be won this year as Romantic warrior The winner of the last three running took a break after playing three of the best races in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Romantic warriors had won the QE II Cup in the past three years and would have been a solid favorite to make four.
Instead, the race came to two talented Japanese visitors. Tastiera, winner of the 2023 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese derby, G1), worked in the route and the favorite of the racing favorites. forecastWas unable to catch him with a run from the rear part of the field. The edge was 1 3/4 lengths.
calif Based in Bahrain, was for second place.
The result was affected by the fatal collapse of Liberty Island Winner of the Japanese Stut foals Triple Crown in 2023.
