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Year in Review Santa Anita opening day HK Cup Entries Hong Kong Cup works Hollywood Derby Day |
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 Zac Purton celebrates aboard Sprint winner Ka Ying Rising. |
The shortest of the International Races at Sha Tin is the HK$26 million (US$3.34 million) Longines Hong Kong Sprint (G1) at 1200 meters, the richest 6 furlong turf sprint in the world, and the final leg of the Global Sprint Challenge. Ka Ying Rising was sent off as the 1-10 favorite in the field of 14 off a 7 race winning streak including the Premier Bowl (G2) and Jockey Club Sprint (G2). In to challenge him included 11-1 second choice Helios Express, second in the Premier Bowl then third in the Jockey Club Sprint, and 14-1 third choice Satono Reve, winner of the Keeneland Cup (G2) at Sapporo before disappointing 7th in the Sprinters Stakes (G2) at Nakayama.
Jockey Brent Avdulla sent 26-1 California Spangle to the lead through fractions of 23.38 and 46.65 while pressed by 103-1 Victor the Winner and stalked by Ka Ying Rising. Turning for home jockey Zac Purton sent Ka Ying Rising to challenge, and he outfinished late-running Helios Express to win by 1/2 a length in 1:08.15. It was another 1/4 length back to Satono Reve third.
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# Horse Jockey Win Place 1 Ka Ying Rising Purton 2.20 2.10 12 Helios Express Bowman 3.50 9 Satono Reve Moreira 4.60 Winning Time: 1:08.15 $2 Quinella 1-12 7.20 $2 Exacta 1-12 8.90 $2 Trifecta 1-12-9 39.60Results Chart from HKJC with video replay |
Left: Ka Ying Rising in the winner's circle. Winning jockey Zac Purton said, "Something lunged at the gate just before he went and it took his mind off it and he turned his head, so he was a little bit slow to step and then Victor The Winner just bore my neck the whole way and he never quite relaxed the way he has."
Right: Ka Ying Rising heads back to the barn. Winning trainer David Hayes said, "The start wasn't perfect and he got pressure when he normally gets a bit of cover, so I think it was a better win than it looked. You're never confident going into international Group 1s because there's so many unknowns, but I was as confident as you could be.We'll see how he pulls up, but the initial one will be the Group 1 sprint in late January, six weeks between the runs and then after that, we'll make a decision whether we go to the (Hong Kong Classic) Mile or not. He was going to relax, Victor (The Winner) came up to him and really eyeballed him. So, I think when he relaxes, we all know he's more explosive. That was probably the least exciting to the eye, but I know that was a great win because he did pull."
Left: Ka Ying Rising heads out to the track the race. Purton added, "He was working the whole way and never had time to relax. He wasn't at his best today and is better than this and still go the job done."
Right: All the connections and officials pose with the trophy and winner's banner after the trophy presentation for the Hong Kong Sprint. Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said, "Ka Ying Rising had tremendous competition from another Hong Kong horses (Victor The Winner), which disrupted his rhythm, but he is an amazing sprinter."
Left: Second place finisher Helios Express heads out to the track before the race. Jockey Hugh Bowman said, "He ran up to expectations. I was delighted with him."
Right: Third place finisher Satono Reve on Wednesday morning. Jockey Joao Moreira said, "He ran fantastic. He got beaten by just two good local horses. He hit the line very strongly but he just wasn't good enough to beat them but I was very happy with the run."
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