There’s no doubt Ka Ying Rising is the best sprinter in the world right now, maybe even the best horse on the planet.
But comparisons to Black Caviar? Ludicrous.
He’s not in the same stratosphere. Not yet, anyway.
Ka Ying Rising’s rise has been undeniable. At Sha Tin, a growing global racing stage, he’s smashed the 1200m record and toyed with rivals.
Describe Ka Ying Rising’s return win in ONE word for us! We’ll start… ELECTRIFYING! ⚡️@zpurton | #SeasonOpener | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/9dStKz0j2g
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) September 8, 2025
On Sunday he returned with another dominant display, running 1:07.63 with Zac Purton sitting up well before the post. Impressive, yes, but nothing unexpected. His true test comes in next month’s Everest.
Australia has long been the home of sprinting royalty, and no champion looms larger than Black Caviar.
10 YEARS AGO.
Black Caviar’s 2013 T J Smith Stakes win👏#Randwick
CHANCES ARE YOU’RE ABOUT TO LOSE. Set a deposit limit. pic.twitter.com/0GcXDOgtME
— bet365 Australia (@bet365_aus) March 30, 2023
‘Nelly’ was equine perfection. Like Frankel, she retired unbeaten, 25 from 25. She smashed records in cruise control, but also overcame adversity others simply couldn’t.
In the 2009 Danehill Stakes she tore a chest muscle when the gates opened, yet still beat future Group 1 winner Wanted. At Royal Ascot, when she “fell in” to win the Diamond Jubilee, critics wondered if we’d overrated her.
The truth? She’d again fought through torn muscles and bruising just to get to the line.
She also faced a vintage era. Hay List would have been a superstar in any other time, but Nelly made him her bunny.
Buffering collected Group 1s across three states and even in Dubai, but only when spared from chasing the mare.
Ka Ying Rising is a superstar, no question. Like Black Caviar, he drags fans back to the track, and his Everest tilt shapes as one of the races of the spring, but the comparison ends there. He’s already been beaten twice, and while he’s bloody good, he’ll never match Nelly’s greatest weapon.
Black Caviar was perfect. Ka Ying Rising isn’t.
