One of the late Queen’s favourite trainers bidding to win another huge pot in Hong Kong with Ka Ying Rising
HONG KONG’s latest king is ready for his crowning moment.
Local hero Ka Ying Rising has burned his rivals into the ground this season, winning seven on the spin ahead of tomorrow’s £2.2 million Chairman’s Sprint on Champions Day.
Speed is his game and his trainer David Hayes, racing royalty himself, has even likened him to Usain Bolt.
Hayes, who has won big races around the globe, returned to Hong Kong in 2021 after a spell back home in Australia.
The 62-year-old is the son of legendary trainer Colin and used to train for the late Queen and was one of only a handful of trainers to attend her funeral in 2022 with his wife Prue.
Hayes has lifted the Melbourne Cup and Japan Cup during his illustrious career yet even he admits Ka Ying Rising might be the best he has ever looked after.
He said: “He’s very, very special. We’re very confident.
“What he has done is awesome but I hope there’s still more to come.
“He has blown the track record at Sha Tin which had stood for years and years and that takes some doing considering the sprinters they get here.
“He gets called Usain Bolt by some and a few have compared him to Black Caviar but it’s probably a bit early for that.
“Touch wood he can do the business and win the triple crown. He has the perfect draw and deserves to win.
“Whether it’s a wet track or not, he’s the one to beat, he just has so much early speed. He’ll be a short price but I know why!”
Hayes is confident and for good reason. The bullish trainer has found the key to the horse…his lucky suit.
Hayes has donned a beige jacket ever since the horse started his astonishing winning run last spring that now stands at 11.
Hayes said: I’m not religious but I think I might be superstitious!
“His owner is even more so, he wears the same clothes every time but I tried a new beige suit last year and he’s not stopped winning since!
“I like to watch him in the same spot too, a TV down at the weighing room.
“It seems to be working well and I don’t want to start changing it now! That would be asking for trouble.”
Ka Ying Rising is officially rated the best sprinter in the world but fans back in Britain will have to wait a while longer to potentially see him.
The horse will finish his season after Sunday’s outing and then be given a break before being targeted at the Everest at Randwick in Sydney in October.
It means there is no trip to Royal Ascot on the radar for now and why would there be with the Everest worth a whopping £15M.
Hayes said: “We love Ascot, I have tried a few times and it would rank right up there with my achievements if I could have a winner.
“But for this horse it’s not realistic, it doesn’t work in the calendar.
“We love the meeting and what the Royal Family does for the sport there so never say never but for now we can’t think too much about it.”
When Hayes moved back to Hong Kong his sons, Ben, Will and JD, took over his Lindsay Park operation in Victoria.
And now proud Hayes will watch his kids take on the world’s best with Aussie sensation Mr Brightside who takes on Voyage Bubble in the Champions Mile.
Hayes said: “It’s a big day for all of us. If we could do the double that would be a dream result.
“Mr Brightside is a serious horse and I think he will make a real race of it.
“He’s not quite at Romantic Warrior’s level but I don’t think he’s a million miles off.”
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