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2025 Year in Review Santa Anita Opening Day Hong Kong Cup Results Hong Kong Jockey Challenge Hong Kong Cup woeks |
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 Zac Purton celebrates aboard repeat Sprint winner Ka Ying Rising. |
The shortest of the International Races at Sha Tin is the HK$28 million (US$3.59 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. Defending champion Ka Ying Rising was sent off as the 1-20 favorite in the field of 13 off a 15 race winning streak including the Everest (G1) at Randwick in Australia and the Jockey Club Sprint (G2), the main local prep. In to challenge him included 26-1 Helios Express, last year's runner-up and third in the Jockey Club Sprint last out, and 32-1 Satono Reve, fourth in the Sprinters Stakes (G1) at Nakayama after finishing a close second in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.
Jockey Zac Purton sent Ka Ying Rising to the lead and off the rail through fractions of 23.42 and 45.16 while pressed by 68-1 Win Carnelian and stalked by 114-1 Wunderbar and 39-1 Fast Network. Turning for home Ka Ying Rising left the field behind, cruising the rest of the way to win by 3 3/4 lengths over late-running 112-1 Raging Blizzard in 1:07.70. It was another 3/4 length back to Fast Network third.
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# Horse Jockey Win Place 1 Ka Ying Rising Purton 2.10 2.02 10 Raging Blizzard Avdulla 16.80 6 Fast Network McDonald 4.70 Winning Time: 1:07.70 $2 Quinella 1-10 36.10 $2 Exacta 1-10 38.20 $2 Trifecta 1-10-6 154.40Results Chart from HKJC with video replay |
Left: Ka Ying Rising in the winner's circle. By winning 16 straight he is one short of the Hong Kong record streak of 17 set by Silent Witness. Winning jockey Zac Purton said, "It felt good. Listen, we didn't really have a fixed plan other than to be positive. I was surprised I led but I was always going to be happy to lead anyway. The fence was no good so I had to get off it. When I looked at the big screen, I was a long way in front! That's what everyone wanted. Obviously after last year, it was a bit flat, but this year I think he showed everyone what he can do."
Right: Ka Ying Rising heads back to the barn. Winning trainer David Hayes said, "He was just superb today. The messages he was sending the week of the race suggested he'd do something like that. We are not running fast times today but he did – (running) a lot faster than the other races. He is a lot heavier and stronger now, so physically he is really improving and it is showing on the track. The great thing about him is that he doesn't have to lead. Today Zac wanted to take all of the risk out of it so he could get off the fence and that is another string to his bow."
Left: Ka Ying Rising heads out to the track the race. Hayes added "We're hoping he's got another 20 races in him. I think on the eye, that's as spectacular a win as he's had. The Royal Ascot form was in the race, great Japanese form in the race, form from Dubai and the Breeders' Cup – they're probably the best sprinters around and he's making them look ordinary and I can assure you, they're not. He'll be set for the fantastic Hong Kong [Speed Series] again. It'll be fun to see him out to 1,400m [in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup], which he did last season, and then all systems [go] towards the [Chairman's Sprint Prize] here and then he'll be going to The Everest again. Let's hope he's sound and well but if he's in the form he was in today, he'll love to take those Aussies on again."
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, "I call it poetry in motion, I call it the best horse I have ever seen at least in the sprinting distances. He's not from this planet — the way he dominated from the gate and left other world-class horses trailing in his shadow was simply extraordinary."
Left: Second place finisher Raging Blizzard heads out to the track before the race. Jockey Brenton Avdulla said, "He went terrific. He's a genuine and honest horse, he's run well his last three and he's picked today on Grand Final day and he's run second to the best horse in the world so you can't ask for any more."
Right: Third place finisher Fast Network heads out to the track before the race. Jockey James McDonald said, "That winner was something else. He ran brave in defeat, though."
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