FWD Champions Day review and reaction including sensational sprinter Ka Ying Rising

Ka Ying Rising made light work of super-skinny odds to claim his 20th straight success in the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin.

Timeform’s highest-rated horse in the world was following up last year’s victory in the same race on FWD Champions Day and did so in typically stylish fashion, jockey Zac Purton cutting a confident figure throughout the six-furlong contest.

Huge crowds of people had once again poured in to witness the David Hayes-trained five-year-old and the local icon didn’t disappoint, readily pulling four and a quarter lengths clear of Japanese ace Satono Reve when asked by Purton in yet another track record-breaking time (1m 7.10s).

Ka Ying Rising is already one of the all-time greats in this part of the world and last October made his mark in Australia with victory in The TAB Everest, a race on his agenda once again later in 2026.

“It was pretty painless," said Purton. "The speed was nice, he was in a good rhythm, it was just a matter of him turning up and doing what he’s been doing all season, and he did that. It was nice to break the track record again – albeit just slightly – but, once again, he’s going to cost me a bit of money, having to get new jackets made!

“When I let him go, he quickened. He took a couple of strides to balance up a little bit, but once he quickened, he quickened extremely well and a long way out I felt very comfortable, very confident.

“The Japanese have sent their best sprinter over today and he’s handled him with a lot of authority. I think people can probably start giving him a little bit more credit than perhaps they have. He’s had a really good 18 months and, like we keep saying, he’s still five. Let’s hope we’ve got him for another season or two.

“It’s different. He’s obviously a very special horse. You have good horses and you have great horses and then you have the really special ones and he’s in that category and I’m very fortunate to be on him. I’m enjoying every moment I have with him and it’s great to see everyone getting behind him as well.”

Hayes said: "It is a bit of a relief because when the second-favourite is 90/1 you tend to worry that you're going to let everyone down but he doesn't does he?

"In the 'Year of the Horse' he's one of the all-time greats now.

"A long time ago I thought he might be the best horse I've trained, about a year ago I thought he's definitely the best I've trained. Now I think he's one of the best horses I've ever seen. You've got to pinch yourself."

On the prospect of landing another Everest later in the year, he added: "We’ll get some of that Aussie cash again."

Romantic affair all over again

There was more joy for another Hong Kong superstar in the FWD QEII Cup as well, eight-year-old Romantic Warrior showing himself to be right at the top of his game with a 14th career Group 1 win.

Danny Shum's popular representative was winning the 10-furlong contest for a fourth time, having scored in 2022, 2023 and 2024, while he was also adding to his four career wins in the Hong Kong Cup over the same course and distance.

The QEII Cup field featured runners from Japan, France and Britain and it was Masquerade Ball who played second fiddle after a late surge from the back of the field, but winning jockey James McDonald appeared in command from a fair way out.

There was a length between the front two, with half a length back to Sosie and another half-length to Royal Champion. Karl Burke's first Hong Kong runner was close to the pace early on under Oisin Murphy but couldn't resist Romantic Warrior's burst of speed when it mattered most.

McDonald was fulsome in his praise of his brilliant partner and the team behind him, saying: “It was touted to be his toughest test. I’ve got to pay Danny and his team so much admiration for how he’s got this horse ready.

"He’s just a dream come true; he’s literally a dream come true for us. I’m the lucky one to be riding him, and Danny’s the lucky one to be training him. Just anything you have to do with this horse, it’s what dreams are made of.

“He’s got plenty of life in his legs yet! An absolute privilege.”

Christophe Lemaire, rider of runner-up Masquerade Ball, was left ruing a lack of pace, commenting: “It was a close one.

"The pace wasn’t that strong, but he showed a great turn of foot in the last 200 to 300 metres. I think he’ll keep improving going forward."

In contrast Oisin Murphy was pleased with Royal Champion.

“Big run, obviously hot field," he said. "He did everything nicely. Proud of him.”

Docklands a fine third in Champions Mile

The FWD Champions Mile went to My Wish under Hugh Bowman, who opted to pick the Mark Newnham-trained five-year-old over stablemate Invincible Ibis who won the Hong Kong Derby last month.

The Harry Eustace-trained Docklands, winner of last summer’s Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Doncaster Mile late last month, ran a big race to take third, with the runner-up spot going to Cap Ferrat who had beaten My Wish in last year's Hong Kong Derby.

Newnham said: "His work here last Saturday morning was exceptional. Hugh is a man of few words generally but you could just tell in his voice that that was as good as the horse could go.

"We knew that if things turned out well during the race, his turn of foot would be superior at the end."

Bowman expressed his pride in My Wish, adding: “I’m very proud of the horse, and congratulations to the team behind him because he’s shown that he can compete and win at this level, and he was yet to do so. But now he’s won with authority, I think. I was very confident going into the race. The pace was really quite on, which suited him, and I got a smooth passage through, and when I asked for top effort, he gave it to me in a stride.

“It was pretty smooth actually. We were very confident going into the race, and when he drew (gate) 10, he proved to me and the team in the lead-up race that he enjoys being ridden a bit conservatively, and I felt as though a lot of those horses which were drawn around me near the outside really had no choice but to roll forward if they wanted to win the race. It created a pretty decent tempo, I feel.

"Throughout the gallop, we were well back but racing really rhythmic – the horse was in a beautiful rhythm and breathing consistently. That gave me confidence at some point the pace had to steady because it was some distance between myself and the horse in front of me. And as we approached the turn, he started to travel into the race particularly well, and I found myself getting to the outside without having to really make too many manoeuvres, and it was there for everyone to see what he’s capable of doing when I let him go. It was no surprise to us – he’s done it before, and I’m very proud to see him do it at this level.

“Its been a great season, and it’s not over yet.”

Mark Zahra said of Docklands: "He ran super.

"He settled back nice and comfy off – not a hectic speed, but he got the split at the right time, and credit to him for running third."

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