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Hong Kong Jockey Club
Ka Ying Rising is officially the world’s best sprinter, but what can he do to boost his rating to challenge the great Australian mare Black Caviar as the best of the modern era?
On her way to an unbeaten record over 25 races, an international panel of handicappers gave her a peak rating of 132 in 2011, while two years later her mark of 130 saw her share the World’s Best Racehorse title with the outstanding French-trained filly Treve.
Ka Ying Rising is currently rated 128 internationally, though his track record-breaking win at Sha Tin on 6 April was not taken into account at the time that rating was published.
Hong Kong’s Greg Carpenter, co-chairman with Dominic Gardiner-Hill of Great Britain, of the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee, believes Ka Ying Rising’s mark could be enhanced.
“I’m reasonably confident that you will see a career-high rating for him when the next round of international ratings are released on May 14, which will be after FWD Champions Day,” Carpenter said.
“Last start, he gave five pounds to that field, smashed the track record again, seemingly throttled down over the last 100 meters, and the (4 1/4-length) winning margin was still the biggest of his career.”
Trainer David Hayes reported that Ka Ying Rising was ready to defend his crown in the US$3.1 million Chairman’s Sprint Prize (G1) and make it 20 wins in a row at Sha Tin on Sunday, 26 April.
“He did a great piece of work on the course proper on Thursday (April 16), his final piece, and, without trying, he ran 21.5 seconds (for 400m), probably suggesting he’s in as good form as he’s been all year,” he said.
Carpenter, the head of racing product for The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said that Ka Ying Rising’s popularity had spread, particularly following his win in the The Everest (G1) at Royal Randwick in Sydney, Australia last October. “We’ve got racing fans travelling here from around the world just to see him race,” he said.
“The relevance of our sport will only be maintained when people embrace international competition and the best horses travel and take on each other. People who are sporting enough to take their horse out of their comfort zone play a major role in driving our sport forward.
“A lot of times (it means) going to jurisdictions where prize money is not necessarily strong, taking a risk rather than staying at home. But these people need to be appreciated and encouraged to make sure we are going to be relevant to sporting fans of the future.”
The list of the world’s best sprinters on ratings since 2008 is headed by Black Caviar (132), Ka Ying Rising and Lord Kanaloa (128) and Nature Strip (126).
Hong Kong heroes Silent Witness and Sacred Kingdom were both given peak ratings of 123 in their respective years.
“Ka Ying Rising is the highest-rated Hong Kong horse on the world stage that we have ever had,” Carpenter said. “I believe he’s being undervalued and still not getting the full credit he deserves. He needs to run through the line and win by an extended margin.”
Sunday’s 11-race fixture at Sha Tin commences at 12.30 a.m. EDT.
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