Ka Ying Rising will take the first step towards The Everest when he resumes at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Hong Kong’s reigning Horse of the Year, and the world’s highest-rated sprinter, Ka Ying Rising is chasing a 13th consecutive win in the HK$3.72 million [$730,000AUD] Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m).
He is also aiming to become the first horse to win the season-opening feature twice. Trainer David Hayes has set the $20 million Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 18 as the ultimate spring target.
Champion jockey Zac Purton is confident the six-year-old has returned even better.
“He’s a bit stronger, a bit bigger, a bit more mature,” Purton said. “He doesn’t need to improve, but if he does, that puts him in a pretty elite category.”
Drawn barrier four, Ka Ying Rising also holds the Sha Tin 1200m record of 1:07.20 in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup in January.
Purton expects Sunday’s pace to be fierce.
“There are seven established leaders in the race, so it won’t be stop-start,” he said. “If they go forward outside me it will inject speed, and then it’s just about breezing home. He’s shown off speed in his trials — they’ll have to go quick to beat him to the corner.”
Among the opposition, Lucky Sweynesse resumes en route to a possible G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) in Japan later this month. Jockey Derek Leung said the gelding would improve with the run.
Here’s today’s barrier trial in full… 🍿
We cannot wait to see you back, Ka Ying Rising! ❤️@zpurton | #SeasonOpener | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/ucwGFhvL9R
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) August 30, 2025
