Hong Kong hero Ka Ying rises earned confirmation of his status as a global superstar and was compared to his trainer’s former champion, Better Loosen Up, when he stormed to victory on The Everest (G1) at Randwick Racecourse on October 18.
The world’s highest-rated sprinter now has the world’s richest sprint title after racing in third place and racing past the leader Viaduct in the 200 meters, and coming away to win by 1 1/4 lengths in the 1,200 meters (about 6 furlong) event.
Godolphin foal Seducedthe only three-year-old in the race, put in a great effort to finish second Jimmy’s star kept up a long run to finish third, a neck further. Viaduct hung on for fourth place.
From Windsor Park Stud’s relatively modest father with a fertility problem Shame Express the 5-year-old gelding has now won 15 of his 17 starts – the last 14 on the jump – with his earnings rising above $12 million with Saturday’s $4.5 million injection from the world’s richest race on artificial turf, and the second-richest race after the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1).
And it was an emotional trainer David Hayes who breathed a sigh of delighted relief after the victory, after almost a month of intense media scrutiny since Ka Ying Rising’s arrival in Sydney, especially around a subdued-looking third in a Randwick trial on October 7.
“So relieved, but when he saddled up quietly, he really had to run under form not to win today,” Hayes said. “But I couldn’t say that, I couldn’t be cocky. But I would have been so disappointed if he hadn’t won when he saddled up quietly.”
In a rare occurrence at a racecourse – especially before a race – rider Zac Purton revealed that Ka Ying Rising was roundly booed by mainly young and rowdy racegoers among the sold-out crowd of around 46,000 as he made his way to the starting gates.
“The crowd did a good job of cheering him up for the race,” said Purton, the Australian who has won eight driving titles in Hong Kong.
“I didn’t expect them to boo him and be as vocal as they were when he came onto the court, and that lasted until we got to the end of the crowd.
“But he handled it very well, I was really impressed by that.
“I just love him. He’s just such a nice horse to ride.”
Hayes, who has also trained such outstanding gallopers as Miss Finland, Criterion, Jeune and Primacy, was in an ebullient mood after the weight-for-age race.
“It’s an absolute sensation,” he said. “I can’t wait to watch the replay and enjoy it. It’s a long straight, isn’t it, when you hit the front with 300 meters to go?
“But I think he held up pretty well. Great ride from Zac.
“I would have been devastated if he had lost today, to be honest, when he was so calm an hour before the race.
“It’s definitely the biggest thrill of my life, and it’s been the longest ten days of my life.”
The presence of Ka Ying Rising alone gave the ninth Everest a truly international flavor for the first time.
When asked what the win meant for Hong Kong racing, Hayes said: “I think it will be great. He’s the pin-up boy there.”
Just as Hayes opined that “there is more to come from this horse”, Purton said Ka Ying Rising had won despite being below his best level.
“I don’t think we saw him (Ka Ying Rising) at his best today, but even if he wasn’t at his best, he’s still good enough.”
Purton, 40, became emotional as he compared Ka Ying Rising to the other Hong Kong superstar he formed a partnership with, eight-time elite winner Beauty Generation.
“To have one champion that I’ve ridden in my career, I thought that was incredible for me,” he said. “And now that one comes along that could be even better, right now it’s really coming into its own.
“You get a bit emotional. You appreciate it more now because it (my career) is almost over, but I’m so lucky. I’ve had such a good career and so lucky that this horse is coming along now.”