The China Mail - Superstar galloper Ka Ying Rising storms to 20th straight win

The five-year-old, ridden by Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton, romped home in one minute, 7.10 seconds -- lowering his own record -- on Champions Day, one of Hong Kong's marquee race meetings.

The gelding has now run four of the five fastest times ever at Shatin.

There was a buzz in the packed grandstand as the giant screens showed Ka Ying Rising moving into his barrier before the race got under way.

Just over a minute later, the crowd showed its appreciation for one of the best racehorses ever to compete in racing-mad Hong Kong.

Officially the world's leading sprinter, the David Hayes-trained galloper jumped at odds of $1.05, with the second favourite, Japanese raider Satono Reve, fetching odds of 89/1.

The Joao Moreira-ridden challenger, himself a multiple Group 1 winner, finished a distant second, four and a quarter lengths behind, with Raging Blizzard third under Brenton Avdulla.

Purton said: "You have good horses, and you have great horses, and then you have the really special ones."

Also on Champions Day, veteran Romantic Warrior extended his record when he claimed the QEII Cup for an unprecedented fourth time.

The Danny Shum-trained eight-year-old is the world's highest-earning racehorse with accumulated prize money of over HK$268 million ($34 million).

Ridden by James McDonald, the four-time Hong Kong Champion Middle-Distance Horse improved his record to 23 wins from 30 runs.

Despite starting as the favourite to claim a record 14th Group 1 crown this edition of the QEII Cup was expected to be one of his sternest tests, with the formidable Japanese four-year-old Masquerade Ball set to provide a searching examination.

In the event, the Hong Kong galloper eased to victory by a length to add another triumph to his remarkable CV.

"It was touted to be his toughest test," McDonald said. "He’s just a dream come true."

Mark Newnham-trained My Wish finally delivered on his sizeable potential when he claimed a first Group 1 victory in the Champions Mile.

The five-year-old had endured a series of near misses at elite level since breaking through last season.

Ridden by Hugh Bowman, the Australian-bred gelding claimed victory by a neck over Cap Ferrat, making it a clean sweep of victories for Hong Kong-trained horses.

D.Peng--ThChM