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Record tumbles as Rising star runs riot again

Every aspect of HK racing was on vivid show on a Sha Tin Sunday that saw the current king return in triumph and a young pretender doing a good impression of the world’s best sprinter.

KA YING RISING broke the mighty Silent Witness’s 1200m track record without breaking sweat in the Jockey Club Sprint, while ROMANTIC WARRIOR returned from a break with a ruthlessly efficient demolition job in the Jockey Club Cup.

Golden Sixty’s champion miler crown is up for grabs after VOYAGE BUBBLE derailed the wide-running Galaxy Patch train in the Jockey Club Mile and, now the key HKIR trials are in the books, several things seem clear.

Warrior primed for third Cup battle

Ka Ying Rising’s rapid rise to the top of the sprint tree has been aided by injury to Lucky Sweynesse but David Hayes’s gelding has cleaned up the division in devastating fashion and broke a record set in 2007 with Zac Purton blowing a kiss to the camera as panting pursuers (including three G1 winners) were left trailing.

It’s hard to think there will be an international raider to lay a glove on him in the Hong Kong Sprint on December 8th and it’s tantalising to think this could be one of those very rare ones who can stretch his brilliant speed to be equally dangerous at a mile.

Romantic Warrior looks set to face sterner opposition – including star Japanese filly Liberty Island and Richard Fahey’s dual Bahrain Trophy hero Spirit Dancer – when he bids to become the first horse to win three Hong Kong Cups next month.

But Danny Shum’s gelding is at the peak of his powers aged six and, with a Cox Plate and a Yasuda Kinen to go with a slew of big HK wins, there isn’t a horse on the planet who has accomplished more on the global stage in the last year or so.

Bubble blowing hot ahead of HKIR date

James McDonald likened Romantic Warrior to the “heavyweight champion of the world” in the aftermath of Sunday’s success but the Kiwi ace has also developed a fine rapport with VOYAGE BUBBLE, who returned to peak form with a narrow yet decisive defeat of Chancheng Glory in the Jockey Club Mile.

Hot favourite Galaxy Patch had excuses in third – forced four wide on the turn – but the winner was conceding him 5lb and will have no Golden Sixty to contend with when he bids to go one better than last year in the Hong Kong Mile.

Sunday’s card threw up several other notable news lines, including a commanding win for emerging sprinter Fast Network and a first Sha Tin success for up-and-coming handler David Eustace provided by 69-1 newcomer Silvery Breeze.

Mastermind started….and finished

HK’s hardline stance on equine welfare was highlighted when progressive handicapper Master Mastermind was banned from racing after bleeding for a second time.

And the downside of having dominant forces in the top races was highlighted by the fact that Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior were both sent round at at 1.1 in the win markets.

History shows no price is too short when HK punters flock to a good thing – and the new aces in the pack look sure to carry banker status again no matter which global names appear when the HKIR selection announcement takes place on Wednesday.

Enter the Dragon – and J-Mac

Bankers are in short supply at Happy Valley on Wednesday but the tussle between Zac and J-Mac will provide a compelling subplot in the run-up to Christmas and it surfaces intriguingly when Triumphant More and Storming Dragon clash in the 12.40.

Purton drove the former to a narrow winning debut and has finished second on the latter four times, most recently when caught in the final strides two weeks ago.

Perhaps that frustrating sequence has persuaded the champion to prefer Triumphant More but STORMING DRAGON didn’t do anything wrong off the bridle and, with a fair draw in stall 5 and McDonald keen to impress, this might just be his breakthrough moment.

Blizzard conditions set to hit the Valley

History shows that almost 75 per cent of 1200m winners at the Valley start from gates 1-6 when the rail is out wide in the C position and that’s well worth noting in two valuable sprints that close the card.

Glory Elite is a fascinating Valley debutant in the 2.15 but Jimmy Ting’s aggressive front runner has drawn gate 10 for his first visit to the city track.

The presence of several other hardened front runners adds another layer of complexity and, all things considered, RAGING BLIZZARD looks the one to focus on.

John Size’s gelding impressed under Purton in two Class 3 Valley wins early this year and returned from a lengthy break with a highly promising effort last month, doing very well to finish third having been badly squeezed at the start from stall 10.

Stall 4 looks much more favourable this time and, with Zac back aboard and a searching pace set to suit him ideally, this lightly-raced gelding looks the best bet of the night.

Prawns on the finale menu

PRAWNS ELEVEN looks a fair win and place option in a tough finale at 2.50.

Mark Newnham’s gelding faces dangerous rivals – including recent winners Denfield and Young Emperor along with potential improvers Romantic Son and Gustosisimo – but he hinted that his turn is near when chasing home Brave Emperor on his latest start.

The winner has gone in again since and Prawns Eleven is better drawn in six this time so he should get his chance in an open race.

Lastly, a positive word for a British recruit who’s knocking at the door and a homegrown HK rider seeking a place on a big stage.

Formerly with Richard Hughes and known as Connemara Coast when he won off 83 at Sandown, SOLEIL FIGHTER has progressed well since joining David Hayes and ran his best race yet when touched off over course and distance last time.

A 2lb rise leaves him nicely treated and Matthew Poon has added reason to shine as a win would go a long way towards helping him snag the final place in the prestigious Longines International Jockeys’ Championship back at the Valley on December 4th.

Wednesday’s Valley Views

• 12.40: Storming Dragon
• 1.45: Soleil Fighter
• 2.15: Raging Blizzard
• 2.50: Prawns Eleven (EW)

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