Dash early, dash late — Ka Ying Rising’s preparation is complete, and the barrier draw has fallen exactly as David Hayes hoped.
Ahead of the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), Hayes was open to any gate in pursuit of a 16th consecutive win for his superstar sprinter.
Barrier one proved the perfect outcome, with Zac Purton ready to showcase the gelding once again on one of Asian racing’s marquee days.
“He has come back even better,” Purton said, reflecting on the horse’s development since his The Everest (1200m) success.
“He’s got more muscle and everything that we have seen since we have been happy with.”
Both trainer and jockey agree his performance in the Group 2 Jockey Club Sprint (1000m) was the finest of his 18-start career.
“His asset is his speed,” Purton said.
“He puts himself up on the pace and he doesn’t like it when they go slower.
“When he’s out there running along, he breaks their hearts.”
Al Riffa lines up from barrier two in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) as he looks to bounce back from a disappointing Melbourne Cup showing.
Voyage Bubble, last year’s winner of the Hong Kong Mile, draws wide in barrier 12 but remains a live chance under Purton.
Trainer Ricky Yiu has long planned to avoid Romantic Warrior in the Hong Kong Cup, leaving strategy in Purton’s hands.
Meanwhile Romantic Warrior, drawn in barrier two, appears set to dominate the 2000m feature as he targets an 11th Group 1 win with James McDonald aboard.
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