Returning from injury, Zac Purton is excited to reunite with Ka Ying Rising when the world’s highest-rated sprinter contests the HK$5.35 million Gr2 Sprint Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday, bidding to extend his winning streak to 11 races.
Zac Purton wins the 2024 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (Pic – HKJC)
Currently ranked joint third with Co-Tack and Beauty Generation (10 consecutive wins each) behind Silent Witness (17 wins) and Golden Sixty (16) for the most wins in a row in Hong Kong, Ka Ying Rising bids for his seventh straight victory this season.
Purton, who suffered a foot injury on 9 February, takes nine rides this weekend and the seven-time Hong Kong champion is looking forward to partnering triple Group 1 winner Ka Ying Rising on Sunday.
“He hasn’t put a foot wrong the whole time he’s been in Hong Kong, he’s pleased us in everything he’s done – every trial, every race, every piece of work – he’s been a pleasure to have anything to do with,” Purton said.
“He’s got a lovely nature, he eats everything, he’s kind in nature, good on race day. He’s a proper little racehorse – it would be great if they were all like him.
“It will be good to be back, I’ve been out for quite a while now and I’ve missed quite a bit – it’s been disappointing in that sense.
“I obviously have to build the quality of my books back up. It will be good to get back out there again and it’s good that I’ve got Ka Ying Rising at the weekend and another couple of horses there that look like they can run well.”
Purton has ridden Ka Ying Rising in both the gelding’s Group 1 victories – the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint and Centenary Sprint Cup, the latter marking the second time this season the four-year-old has lowered Sha Tin’s 1200m course record with a searing gallop of 1m 07.20s.
With Purton sidelined, Karis Teetan combined with Ka Ying Rising to land the Gr1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin on 23 February.
David Hayes is happy with Ka Ying Rising’s preparation (Pic – HKJC)
Ka Ying Rising’s trainer David Hayes is confident his star can continue his winning streak this weekend.
“He’s in really good shape. His trial last week was probably as good as he has trialled all season and I think the way his coat looks, it’s as good as it’s been so I would expect another good run,” Hayes said.
To carry 128lb on Sunday, Ka Ying Rising will concede 5lb to six rivals – California Spangle, Helios Express, Lucky With You, Magic Control, Copartner Prance and Gorgeous Win.
“I know he’s got to a carry some extra weight but he probably deserves it,” Hayes said before identifying Helios Express – who has already finished second four times this season to Ka Ying Rising – as the main danger.
“You have got to respect Helios Express, especially with five pounds lighter. Ka Ying Rising has had the measure of him at set weights, but it’s now slightly different conditions but I would expect us to be a pretty firm favourite.”
Hayes and Purton will also combine with Ka Ying Rising’s half-brother Ka Ying Glory, a recent Happy Valley trial winner, who debuts in the first section of the Class 4 Plantation Handicap.
California Spangle is chasing his first win of the season and 14th overall (Pic – HKJC)
Tony Cruz is optimistic veteran California Spangle can recapture top form after five successive finishes outside of the top three.
“California Spangle is in the best shape he’s ever been in. Ka Ying Rising, he’ll be the one – if I ran second to him, I’ll be happy,” said Cruz, who will also saddle Beauty Joy and La City Blanche in the HK$5.35 million Gr2 Chairman’s Trophy.
“Beauty Joy, I’m very happy with his condition. We’ve waited a long time for this race. He had an elbow problem before but he’s in top shape now and I’m very happy with him,” Cruz said.
Beauty Joy (Brenton Avdulla) and La City Blanche (Matthew Chadwick) will face Beauty Eternal, Galaxy Patch, Chancheng Glory, Ensued, Happy Together, Red Lion, Straight Arron, Moments In Time, Nimble Nimbus and Sunlight Power.
Sunday’s 10-race Sha Tin card starts with the Class 4 Severn Handicap at 06h45.
