New Zealand may be synonymous with breeding top-class middle-distance and staying horses, but now it is proving just as dominant with its sprinters.
Last year New Zealand-bred Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) was ranked the world’s best sprinter with a rating of 125, and 12 months later compatriots Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) and I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) share top honours with American speedster Cogburn, with ratings of 121, in the latest LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.
Ka Ying Rising has been a sensation in Hong Kong for trainer David Hayes, where he has recorded back-to-back elite-level victories, with Sunday’s win in the Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) lowering the Sha Tin track record.
“The emergence of Ka Ying Rising under David Hayes and Zac Purton for the Ka Ying Syndicate has been a wonderful success,” Hong Kong Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said.
“Starting out as an unraced import, Ka Ying Rising has surged through Hong Kong’s always competitive sprint ranks to stand as our premier sprinter with his incredible performances, including the setting of a new Sha Tin course record for 1200m, to now be acknowledged as one of the world’s premier sprinters.”
While Ka Ying Rising has dominated the sprinting scene in Hong Kong this season, he could have some competition in the form of a renewed Lucky Sweynesse, who is making a pleasing comeback from injury.
The multiple Group One winner has been off the scene since last April when he had surgery on his left front fetlock after he was injured when winning the Gr.2 Sprint Cup (1200m).
He has pleased with his comeback, including finishing runner-up in a 1000m trial at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning, and is on track to make a return in the Sprint Cup on March 30.
