Horse racing news: Ka Ying Rising equals Silent Witness with historic G1 Centenary Sprint Cup win

Moments after Ka Ying Rising forged into Hong Kong racing history with a record-equalling win in the HK$13 million (approx. £1.2m) G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (6f/1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday 25 January, David Hayes predicted the world’s best sprinter could potentially break Sha Tin’s 1400m course record next month.

Ka Ying Rising’s dominance continues

Reacting to Ka Ying Rising’s effort to post a 17th consecutive victory to match the winning streak of Silent Witness from 2002 to 2005, Hayes believes the superstar galloper can threaten Sha Tin’s 1400m record of 1m 19.92s – jointly held by Encouraging and Packing Hermod – when he contests the HK$13 million (approx. £1.2m) G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (7f/1400m) on 22 February.

“Last year, he worked a bit and won it [Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup], and I think he’s a stronger, better horse this year,” Hayes said.

“I think he will handle the 1400m beautifully. I’m really excited for the next race. It’s another dimension for him.

“Last year, he nearly broke the course record at 1400m, and I think if the conditions are right, he can go close again.”

Ridden by Karis Teetan in last year’s Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup in the absence of regular rider Zac Purton, who was injured, Ka Ying Rising clocked 1m 20.33s.

Ka Ying Rising today clocked 1m 07.66s – outside his own 1200m Sha Tin turf track record of 1m 07.20s – after being allowed to coast to the line in defeating Helios Express by one-and-a quarter lengths with Fast Network a further two lengths back.

“The winning margin wasn’t probably the greatest, but it’s probably the most Zac has ever eased him down,” Hayes said.

“So, he had a very easy last 200 metres and he dominated as the market suggested he would. Just nice to see him do it.”

Ka Ying Rising improved his record to 18 wins from 20 starts and is unbeaten since 12 February 2024, with career prize money of HK$129.8 million.

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New benchmark after Silent Witness

Celebrating his fourth win in the race after victories with Aerovelocity (2016), Lucky Sweynesse (2023) and Ka Ying Rising last season, Purton said: “What can I say? We’ve said it all with the horse.

“I just had to make sure my bloke was in a rhythm. I’m surprised he ran the time he ran because it didn’t feel like he ran that quickly sort of mid-early in the race. Yeah, he’s just different class.

“I never thought I would see it [a record-equalling 17th win in a row], to be honest. It’s very, very rare what Silent Witness did and what Ka Ying has been able to do so far – and let’s hope he can keep going on with it.”

“After Silent Witness, I don’t think anyone thought they would ever see it again. Fortunately for us who are involved with the horse, he’s equalled him and can hopefully put his own benchmark.

“It’s pretty nice when you look at the big screen and you’re a long way in front, I can tell you. A race is a race. You’ve still got to go out and do it and hopefully he can hold his form, which we will expect he will.

“He’s got a big race next time, obviously he goes up in distance, but he’s up for it.”

The Centenary Sprint Cup was the first leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series, which also includes the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup and the HK$24 million (approx. £2.3m) G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (6f/1200m) on 26 April.

A HK$5 million bonus is on offer to the winner of all three legs.

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Romantic Warrior in Stewards’ Cup

Romantic Warrior vanquished the field to claim a first victory in the HK$13 million (approx. £1.2m) G1 Stewards’ Cup (1 mile/1600m) and launch his bid for the Triple Crown in scintillating style at Sha Tin on Sunday 25 January.

A 12th Group 1 success for Romantic Warrior began to look like a foregone conclusion as early as 400m out as in the saddle James McDonald eased up alongside early leader Lucky Sweynesse, with defending Stewards’ Cup champion Voyage Bubble three wide and treading water in his attempts to get after Danny Shum’s eight-year-old and Mark Newnham’s My Wish stuck in traffic further back in the field.

After eye-balling Manfred Man’s galloper for 100m, McDonald released the breaks and quickly sent Romantic Warrior clear.

Lucky Sweynesse boxed on gamely to finish second on his debut over the mile course, but the Acclamation gelding continued to pull away, passing the post one-and-three-quarter lengths clear of the field.

Voyage Bubble was further back in third, with My Wish in a dead-heat for fourth – with Sunlight Power – after a torrid run in transit.

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‘The horse of a lifetime’

Regular partner McDonald long ago ran out of superlatives to describe “the horse of a lifetime” but was thrilled to claim the Stewards’ Cup at the second attempt.

“His demeanor, his courage, his will to win – it’s just in spades,” McDonald said.

“It’s incredible. I say it every time, but when he steps out, it’s a privilege to ride such a horse of his calibre.

“He began really well, and I thought it was going to be pretty smoothly run. But a few picked up, which was quite surprising, and he was always in a nice rhythm.

“Gate seven out of nine gave us that opportunity to not force our hand and wait until it settled down, and I knew Voyage Bubble was three deep, and I wasn't going to give him a cart.”

“He’s been unlucky in the past but bumped into a very good horse. But he’s a warrior,” he added.

Romantic Warrior, who last week was ranked seventh in the 2025 LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, has now won 21 of his 28 starts.

The Stewards’ Cup win took his record-extending prize money haul to a staggering HK$247.38 million.

Earlier this season, Romantic Warrior triumphed for an unprecedented fourth time in the HK$40 million (approx. £3.8m) G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup.

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Triple crown campaign gets underway

After campaigning overseas for much of the 2024/25 season, connections switched their focus to domestic domination in 2025/26, and the bid to match Voyage Bubble and River Verdon’s feats in becoming the only horses to sweep the Triple Crown is now underway.

The next assignment is back at Romantic Warrior’s favoured trip in the HK$13 million (approx. £1.2m) G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (1m2f/2000m) on 1 March.

The HK$13 million (approx. £1.2m) G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (1m4f/2400m) completes the Triple Crown on 24 May.

“I’m so proud of Romantic Warrior,” said Shum, expressing his delight at the performance.

“He can handle 1600 [metres], 2000, even 2400 – he can handle any distance.

“We all know 2000 is his best trip, so no problem there. I’ll just keep him happy, keep him healthy – it’s a very easy job for me.”

McDonald, who regularly jets into Hong Kong from Australia to ride Romantic Warrior, agreed it was a perfect way to launch the Triple Crown campaign.

“It’s a long way to go, but, yeah, the first one’s ticked off,” he said.

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday 28 January.

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