Four weeks after demolishing quality opposition in Class 2, Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) is back at Sha Tin for his stiffest test to date in Sunday’s HK$4.2 million Gr.3 Sha Tin Vase Handicap (1200m).
The second of a Group Three double-header at Sha Tin, which also features the HK$4.2 million Gr.3 Lion Rock Trophy Handicap (1600m), the quality dash is topped by a pair of Group One winners in Victor The Winner (Toronado) and Invincible Sage (Thronum), while Ka Ying Rising has the least experience in the nine-runner field with six starts under his belt.
Trained by David Hayes and to be ridden by Karis Teetan, the budding three-year-old – who has won four times at Sha Tin – is aiming to outshine a host of better credentialed rivals.
“I think Ka Ying Rising has very good form references going forward. He’s taking on international Group One winners, so we’ll see how good he is,” Hayes said.
The rapidly improving Ka Ying Rising has surged through the grades. Two starts ago he safely held subsequent winner Call Me Glorious (No Nay Never) by more than a length in March.
“He’s eaten up and held his form and it was good to see that good young horse he beat (Call Me Glorious) win, beating Little Brose at Sha Tin on Sunday (26 May). I thought he was one of the most progressive horses on the weekend,” Hayes said.
Ka Ying Rising’s 96 rating is dwarfed in the race book as only he and Son Pak Fu (Fighting Sun) rate below triple figures.
“He’s on the minimum but he is still racing probably seven or eight pounds out of the handicap. We’re pretty confident he can run in the upper-class next season so we don’t mind sacrificing a ratings race at this stage of his career,” Hayes said.
