Ka Ying Rising makes it 10 straight with fighting win: ‘I was seriously just a bit uptight'
Trainer David Hayes was feeling the pinch in the home straight but ultimately Ka Ying Rising had all the answers on his way to a 10th straight victory in Sunday's Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m).
The brilliant Ka Ying Rising bagged his third Group One success but first under Karis Teetan, who made no mistake aboard the world's best sprinter in the absence of the injured Zac Purton.
'It's unbelievable how this opportunity came up to be sitting on one of the world's best horses,' said Teetan after his first Group One success in almost three years.
'I'm just really thankful that everything worked out well – I think I was just the pilot on him today.
GO ON, @KarisTeetan! 🔥
The Mauritian ace guides superstar Ka Ying Rising to a third Group 1 win in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin ahead of Helios Express and Howdeepisyourlove... 🏆#LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/sVEeLdIERx — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 23, 2025
'He flew out of the gate, I wanted him to use the early speed that he has but sort of dropped my hands and he just came back to me pretty easily and he was waiting for me to press the button and, when I did, he produced really well.'
After settling outside leader California Spangle from gate nine, Ka Ying Rising went for home at around the 350m.
He had Helios Express breathing down his neck approaching the 200m before fending him off to salute by a length and a half, with Howdeepisyourlove close behind in third.
'It was fantastic. I had a nervous moment at the 200m but on the line I think he was holding them very well. It was an enjoyable last 100m but a frightening 200m,' said Hayes.
'I did a little bit of self-monitoring and normally I'm about 68 [beats per minute] through a race but I must say at the 200m I looked down and I was 98. I was seriously just a bit uptight for some reason.'
Teetan was ecstatic after his second win aboard Ka Ying Rising, shouting to the crowd as he returned to the winners' circle.
'I want to thank the owner and David and finally Zac. I spoke to him during the week and he was really kind,' Teetan said.
'He said 'just know you're on the best horse and ride him like that and trust him', so thank you to Zac.'
After twice lowering the Sha Tin 1,200m track record this season, Ka Ying Rising added another string to his bow by winning his first start at 1,400m in a time of 1:20.33 – 0.41 seconds outside the seven-furlong record.
'I have always said he's a miler but he's just such a good sprinter, [so] I'm a bit loath to change. They were closer to him at the 1,200m than the 1,400m,' said Hayes.
'The good thing about drawing wide, as he always does, Karis was never going to get boxed in. But what I didn't like was the track is running a bit swooperish today. I thought he had to defy a bit of a track trend today.
'It was a little bit like my sons' horse [Mr Brightside winning the Group One Futurity Stakes (1,400m) on Saturday] – there's a little bit of breeze, horses aren't winning from the front and he didn't get one bit of cover for one stride and he was good enough to beat them nearly breaking a track record at a different distance yet again. He's a very special horse. There should be a lot more to come.'
Hayes confirmed the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) on April 27 is Ka Ying Rising's next main target, with a run in March 30's Group Two Sprint Cup (1,200m) a possibility if he pulls up well.
'He's won 10 in a row at basically a month between runs so I'm a bit loath to change if he does well,' said Hayes.
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