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| Staff Writer |
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Ka Ying Rising, who has been hailed as "probably the best horse" legendary trainer David Hayes has ever trained, has strengthened his position for the US$20m The Everest after demolishing his own track record at Sha Tin on Sunday night.
The superstar sprinter, delivering a devastating performance in the Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup, stopped the clock at 1min 07.2sec for 1200m despite being heavily eased before the line by Zac Purton.
Having guided the careers of champions including Better Loosen Up, Miss Finland and Jeune, Hayes placed his latest sensation at the pinnacle of his illustrious training career following the gelding's ninth consecutive triumph.
"He's certainly the best sprinter I've had anything to do with and probably the best horse," Hayes told Hong Kong media. "He's quite freakish what he does. The last 100m today, Zac switched the engine off, so in the two track records he's broken, he's actually eased him down the last 100m or 80m."
The Gr.1 The Everest, scheduled for Royal Randwick on October 18, remains the primary target for Ka Ying Rising. Hayes outlined: "It's the richest turf race in the world, it's at his distance, so it's getting more realistic every month we go on. We'll really start thinking about a pathway towards it after the international race here in April (Champions Sprint Prize) then after that, he'll probably just be set for the big sprint."
In other developments, Wodeton, trained by Chris Waller, has captured attention after a commanding four-length victory at Rosehill. The Coolmore-owned juvenile has subsequently been marked as US$4 favourite for the US$5m Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens on March 22.