Champion trainer David Hayes hailed KA YING RISING, the brilliant son of ShamExpress as “a bit special”, after the exciting sprinter lit up the Sha Tin turf with a historic victory in Sunday’s Class One HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (1,200m).
No horse had ever won the HK$3.7 million feature carrying more than 130 pounds and KA YING RISING had never raced on a rain-softened surface, but that did not stop the Hayes-trained speedster stamping his authority on the opening day of the season to take his overall record to 7 wins from 9 starts.
The $2.30 favourite travelled with ominous authority in second and it was merely a question of when Zac Purton would elect to urge his mount forward.
The four-year-old cruised to the lead 300m out and stretched clear under Purton, giving 20 pounds and a length and a quarter beating to the well-fancied runner-up, Beauty Waves.
KA YING RISING showed a clean pair of heels in the final 200m to stop the clock in 1:08.03, around two and a half lengths quicker than standard time.
Hayes was delighted to pick up his first win of the season and applauded KA YING RISING’S tactical versatility and physical development.
“Physically he’s put on about 20 pounds and mentally he’s a lot better, according to Zac,” Hayes said. “I wanted to run him early in the season because he’s had a lot of time off.
SHAMEXPRESS, has started the new season where he left off, with great results that include the Gr.1 Singapore Derby and Raffles Cup winner LIM'S SALTORO, who has a career record of 10 wins from 12 starts.
Additionally his 2024 Australian Group winners include MARACANA and GRINZINGER BELLE, the latter due to start her Melbourne Spring campaign in the Gr.2 Let's Elope Stakes this Saturday.
SHAMEXPRESS' overall Stakes Winners to Runners ratio is just on 6%, with his Runners to Winner's ratio at 66.1%.
With his stock having sold up to $700,000 at auction, SHAMEXPRESS represents a great proven option at a 2024 service fee of just $8,000+gst.
