Zac Purton and the world’s best sprinter annihilate competition in Group Two Sprint Cup

 

Champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising surged to a record-extending 19th consecutive victory in Sunday’s Group Two Sprint Cup (1,200m), obliterating his own Sha Tin track record in another barnstorming display.

Zac Purton was aboard the world’s best sprinter once again as they knocked 0.08 seconds off the previous mark to record a time of 1:07.12.

The David Hayes-trained superstar has remained undefeated for 784 days, and Purton believes the champion is now at the peak of his powers.

“I think what we’re seeing now is who he is. It will be a bit unrealistic to think that he’s going to improve. I think the performance is right up there, for sure,” Purton said.

While the tailwind down the Sha Tin straight was beneficial to running a quick time, the headwind around the bend proved challenging – making the achievement all the more impressive according to Hayes.

“It was exceptional when you look at the time and the ease he ran it, and the times they were running in the other races today. Down the straight with the tailwind – fast times – but around the bend they haven’t been that fast and he just did it with ease,” Hayes said.

“I think they must’ve gone pretty hard into the wind and then he popped out and took advantage of the tailwind. It was one of his easier wins but when they’re thirty-to-one on, they probably should win easily, but it’s not easy to do.”

While the five-year-old broke from the barriers slightly slower than in previous starts, Purton used his early speed to land behind the leader and drew level with Stellar Express briefly before putting him away at the 300m and going on to beat Helios Express by four-and-a-quarter lengths.

 “I wasn’t out there to run time today. Of course, Stellar Express ran along and that set it up and I just got my horse into a lovely rhythm and he let down so beautifully. It’s the best he’s accelerated at the top of the straight,” Purton said.

Ka Ying Rising carried 128lb – an additional 5lb to the rest of the field – while stepping back in distance from his last trip of 1,400m when victorious in the Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup.

“Things were there to try and unsettle him a little bit with the extra weight to carry, as well as coming back in distance, but he’s just different,” Purton said.

Ka Ying Rising’s immediate target will be defending the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m) crown on April 26, followed by a tilt at a second Group One Everest (1,200m) at Randwick in October. Hayes is looking forward to taking on the international competition both at home and abroad.

“Satono Reve ran amazing time in Japan the other day and won very easily, and he’s the best in Japan and he’s proven in Europe. The horses that have come here are no slouches and he’s really beaten them so well,” Hayes said.

“The Everest will be different opposition – there’s some very good young horses in Australia that we look forward to race – and they can come here for the international races.”

Ka Ying Rising continues to improve with age and maturity and Hayes believes that will be a key factor as he progresses throughout his career.

“Just behind the gates and everything he does, he’s taking it in so well, and to saddle him up he’s a quieter horse. He’s just really maturing and it’s been a golden year this year, but I think that he’ll have another one next year,” Hayes said.

The world-class trainer has no plans to change Ka Ying Rising’s winning formula and will continue to prepare the son of ShamExpress the same as has previously.

“We’ll just keep on doing what we’re doing because it’s working so well. It’s not stressing our horse and we’re hoping to have him for another couple of seasons – especially one more at the top,” Hayes said.