World’s best sprinter set for Everest return

After another phenomenal win on FWD Champions Day, Ka Ying Rising will now spell as trainer David Hayes rests the world’s best sprinter before plotting a path towards Sydney, Australia for the G1 The Everest (1200m).

The nine-time Group 1 winner secured a record-extending 20th consecutive win, again lowering his own 1200m Sha Tin turf course record to 1m 07.10s in the HK$24 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) and returning a peak local rating of 142.

“I could run him today (Tuesday, 28 April). He’s fantastic. He’s having a well-earned rest and we’re looking forward to next season,” Hayes said. “He’ll go to Conghua on Wednesday. The Everest is in the front of my mind – we’re looking forward to defending the title and then, of course, the big international race here in December.”

Ka Ying Rising became the first overseas winner of The Everest last year, which carries an enormous AU$20 million (approx. HK$112.71 million) purse. This year’s edition of the race will be staged on 17 October at Royal Randwick.

Fourth in this season’s trainers’ championship standings with 46 wins, including eight with Ka Ying Rising, Hayes saddles six runners at Happy Valley on Wednesday, including Akashvani (115lb) in a cracking 10-runner Class 2 Seoul Handicap (1000m).

“We just feel he goes well at the Valley and we thought we would give it a try at the minimum distance. He’ll be very strong at the end of the 1000 (metres). He’s a really honest horse and a competitor,” Hayes said.

Karis Teetan – who has five wins this month – is aiming to keep the ball rolling tomorrow night when he links with John Size’s Spirit Of Peace (116lb) in the Class 3 Busan Handicap (1200m) from barrier nine.

“He’s knocking on the door now to get his win (this season). Let’s hope we can do it on Wednesday night. I rode him a while ago – he’s actually improved a lot since then. He does try really hard. It would be nice to get a win on him,” Teetan said.

“It seems like he does come from off the speed. You would want a nice, fast-run race for him. You would think he is capable of winning in Class 3.”

Following his debut win in Hong Kong on 19 April in Class 2 over 1800m, fellow Size trainee Nautical Force is entered to run in Sunday’s (3 May) stamina-testing HK$4.2 million G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m) at Sha Tin.

“He’s run over longer distances overseas. He can stay all day this horse. You don’t find many horses who have done what he has done (win on debut),” Teetan said.

“He had a few trials and he was well prepped – Mr Size had him in good shape going towards the race, and he had no weight on his back (115lb) when he won, but the way he won, there was a bit of merit. Of course, it’s a big step but it’s a small race; a lot of horses to be respected in there but, I think, he’s the right horse to do it.”

Stunning Peach, Winning Wing, Gentlemen Legacy, Joy Of Spring, Fortune Boy and Romantic Thor are also entered for the race, which Teetan won with Bubble Chic in 2014.

Thunder Prince (127lb) broke through by two lengths on 22 April at Happy Valley, and trainer Jamie Richards is hoping the I Am Invincible gelding can repeat in the Class 4 Korea Racing Authority Trophy Handicap (1200m) at the city circuit tomorrow night.

 “He’s taken a fair while to get his act together. He drew barrier one and never went around a horse, but he did still do it in good fashion. He was getting down to a mark where he was, hopefully, going to do something,” Richards said.

“I’m thrilled for the owners that he was able to get a win, and I just thought that while he is in such good form, why not run him again. It’s a slightly awkward draw (eight) this week, but he’s certainly taken no harm from his win last week.”

General Redwood (130lb) claimed a first win earlier this month, and jockey Angus Chung reunites with the gelding in the Class 4 Incheon Handicap (1650m).

“We didn’t expect a lot of pace last time, so we decided to go forward. It’s not what he normally does, but we didn’t see any pace, so it was a new way to ride him and it was a success,” Chung said. “He’s going pretty well.”

Wednesday night’s (29 April) nine-race fixture at Happy Valley kicks off at 6.40pm with the Class 5 Daejeon Handicap (1800m).