A long-time ally of David Hayes in Australia, Craig Williams hopes to upstage the dual Hong Kong champion trainer’s outstanding sprinter Ka Ying Rising at Sha Tin on Sunday when he rides Magic Control in the HK$13 million Gr1 Centenary Sprint Cup.
Craig Williams has 123 Hong Kong wins (Pic – HKJC)
Williams, 47, combined with Hayes to land a string of Group 1 races in Australia, where he is revered for his feat in landing the nation’s racing ‘Grand Slam’ with victories in the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Golden Slipper.
With 123 victories in Hong Kong, including the 2011 Gr1 Hong Kong Vase on French stayer Dunaden, Williams is hoping to add to the tally this weekend with eight rides, including Chater Gold and Aurio for Hayes.
But his primary focus is Magic Control’s tilt at Sha Tin track record-holder Ka Ying Rising, who is chasing a second Group 1 and bidding to extend his current unbeaten streak to nine races after triumph in the Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint last month.
“Ka Ying Rising looks very good and David knows what a good sprinter is,” said Williams, who partnered top Hayes-trained horses such as Miss Finland, Fields Of Omagh, Criterion, Vega Magic and Niconero.
“Ka Ying Rising won an international sprint race and that’s a targeted race and the talk was he should have won by more – but he won. That’s how good he is.
“People were complaining that he didn’t win by far enough. But that shows you how much they think of this horse, that’s how impressive he is.”
Magic Control is a two-time Sha Tin winner (Pic – HKJC)
Williams rides Magic Control for the first time and is familiar with the former Australian speedster’s form in Melbourne, where he won the Gr3 Red Anchor Stakes at Moonee Valley and the Listed Poseidon Stakes in 2023 when trained by Matt Laurie.
“I know in Hong Kong, Magic Control hasn’t gone out beyond 1000 metres, but in Australia he won two Stakes races, including one at 1200m, so that gives me confidence,” Williams said.
“His trainer Cody Mo is going really well, he’s having a great season, especially recently and he’s obviously gaining a really good handle on this horse, but it’s not going to be a walk in the park.
“It’s far from that when you’ve got a horse that won one of the world’s biggest international sprint races and he lines up on Sunday.”
Apart from Ka Ying Rising, Magic Control will face Victor The Winner, Helios Express, Howdeepisyourlove, Invincible Sage, Lucky With You and Beauty Waves.
The Centenary Sprint Cup is the first race in the Hong Kong Speed Series, which carries a HK$5 million bonus for any horse able to also win the HK$13 million Gr1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup on 23 February and the HK$22 million Gr1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize on 27 April.
Voyage Bubble is chasing a third Group 1 on Sunday (Pic – HKJC)
Ricky Yiu is confident Voyage Bubble can continue his outstanding form when last month’s Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile victor resumes in the HK$13 million Gr1 Stewards’ Cup this weekend.
“He’s a happy horse, full of beans, fresh. He’s as good as gold,” Yiu said. “I’m pretty confident that he will do well again. It’s a small field and James McDonald is the best jockey – he knows him well and the horse has kept his form well. That’s the main thing.”
Voyage Bubble is pitted against fellow Group 1 winners California Spangle and Beauty Eternal as well as Beauty Joy, Galaxy Patch, Chancheng Glory, Red Lion and Patch Of Theta.
The Stewards’ Cup is the first leg of the Triple Crown series, which carries a HK$10 million bonus for any horse able to also win the HK$13 million Gr1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup on 23 February and the HK$13 million Gr1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup on 25 May.
Sunday’s 11-race card at Sha Tin starts with the Class 4 Beat The Clock Handicap at 06h30.
