David Hayes

Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress), the world's highest-rated sprinter, has been confirmed as an intended runner in the A$20 million G1 The Everest after the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) finalised a deal to secure the Australian Turf Club's slot for two years. Trained by David Hayes, Ka Ying Rising was last seen winning the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize at Sha Tin in April, beating Japanese ace Satono Reve by over two lengths to gain his 12th consecutive win. "I'm absolutely thrilled it's been finalised," Hayes told the South China Morning...

Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) further cemented his status as the world's best sprinter with a 2 1/4-length victory in the 1200-metre G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize at Sha Tin on Sunday. Sent off the heavy 1-20 crowd's pick, the bay gelding duly made it a dozen wins in a row with the closing Satono Reve (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) a neck ahead of third-place finisher Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}), who also rallied from the rear of the field. In touch with the leaders in a tracking fifth through...

Dual Hong Kong champion trainer David Hayes immediately set his sights on the HK$26-million BMW Hong Kong Derby in three weeks' time with Rubylot (Aus), following a stellar performance from the son of Rubick (Aus) to win Sunday's HK$13-million Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin. Settled at the rear of the field with only one behind through the early stages, Rubylot and Brenton Avdulla tracked Mickley (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}) into the straight, before angling into the clear and accelerating powerfully with a race-best 22.30-second sectional for the final...

Two-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer David Hayes has been enjoying a strong season with his runners, and on the back of a trio of Group 1 victories courtesy of Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), is aiming to add the HK$13-million Hong Kong Classic Cup over 1800 metres with either Rubylot (Aus) (Rubick {Aus}) or Hong Kong debuter and G1 South African Derby-placed Mondial (SAf) (Flower Alley). The former is the most experience runner in the field with 17 Hong Kong starts, good for five wins. Already a winner over...

The world's highest rated sprinter, Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) added his third Group 1 on the bounce and 10th victory in a row in Sunday's 1400-metre HK$13-million Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin. Missing in action was his regular jockey Zac Purton, who has been sidelined with a foot injury. Step forward Karis Teetan, and the show went on. Keeping a close eye on last year's winner California Spangle (Aus) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) from the bell, the 1-5 favourite never let his rival have a moment's ease. He...

At some point, the superlatives run dry. Just two races after lowering the Sha Tin 1200-metre track record previously held by the outstanding Sacred Kingdom (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) shaved another chunk off that mark when dominating from the front in Sunday's HK$13-million G1 Centenary Sprint Cup. It was a ninth win on the trot for the 4-year-old, his 10th in just 12 career starts and has his connections pondering exactly what 'heights' he may be able to achieve. "It's the richest turf...

It isn't that they weren't expected to perform--each was sent away at 1-10 favouritism--but reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and new sprint sensation Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) gave the Sha Tin faithful and a broader audience worldwide exactly what they wanted at Sunday's Longines Hong Kong International Races meeting. Romantic Warrior, purchased by Mick Kinane for 300,000gns at the 2019 Tattersalls October Sale as a prospect for the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Hong Kong International Sale, took out the G1 Longines...

One of the more remarkable characteristics of Hong Kong racing is that for a jurisdiction that is home to roughly 1,200 Thoroughbreds, invariably the torch gets passed and the town is never wanting for world-class athletes. Going back to the turn of the century, gallopers to have captured the imagination of not only those in and around Hong Kong, but also of an increasingly sophisticated worldwide audience have included the likes of Fairy King Prawn (Aus), the legendary Silent Witness (Aus), Good Ba Ba, Vengeance of Rain (NZ), Ambitious Dragon...

On the back of a victory aboard Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) for Coolmore and trainer Andre Fabre in the G1 Investec Epsom Derby in 2011, a then 20-year-old Mickael Barzalona took up a short-term contract to ride in Hong Kong, bringing up a single winner from 42 rides. Now all of 33 years of age, the Frenchman experienced the other end of the spectrum to take out the valuable Longines International Jockeys' Championship (IJC) before a packed house at Happy Valley Racecourse, book-ending the four-race competition with victories en...

Jockey Vincent Ho made history Wednesday night at iconic Happy Valley Racecourse on Hong Kong Island, becoming the first 'homegrown' rider to take out the prestigious Longines International Jockeys' Championship. With a narrow victory over Zac Purton in the fourth and final leg of the series, Ho amassed a total of 20 points to Purton's 18, with Australia's Rachel King and the locally based South African Lyle Hewitson on 16 points. King was declared outright third, with her victory in the first leg of the competition and an additional third-place...

European-based jockeys managed victories in three of the four races comprising Wednesday's Longines International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley Racecourse on Hong Kong Island, but consistency was rewarded when Zac Purton--out of luck on the evening--had the last laugh, placing in all four legs to take home the HK$500,000 (£48,558/€56,739) first prize. Currently atop the jockeys' premiership in Hong Kong, Purton was winning the IJC for a third time in five years, having taken it in 2017 and again 12 months ago. He joins Frankie Dettori and Douglas Whyte as...

by Alan Carasso Crushed at the tills into $12 (1-5) favourtism to build on a smashing debut effort Sept. 5, Nervous Witness (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}) absorbed plenty of mid-race heat, but responded to that challenge to annex a Class 3 event over the Sha Tin straight 1000 metres by 3 3/4 lengths, becoming the second Hong Kong 'TDN Rising Star' Friday afternoon. Drawn high towards the stands'-side rail, Nervous Witness was away alertly, but was pressed to his outside by Brilliant Fortune (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), with a sectional...