David Hayes has emphatically dismissed rumours suggesting Ka Ying Rising is in doubt for Saturday’s The Everest (1,200m), calling it the “biggest load of c**p I’ve ever been involved in”.
The rumour mill ran wild on social media on Sunday, with many speculating the world’s best sprinter might not run in the A$20 million (HK$100 million) sprint at Randwick in Sydney.
Long the hot favourite for the world’s richest race on turf, Ka Ying Rising drifted considerably in Australian fixed-odds markets on the back of the rumours and some operators even briefly suspended betting.
Plenty were quick to knock Ka Ying Rising after he trialled below his best on Tuesday morning, however things ratcheted up significantly over the weekend.
“It’s the biggest load of c**p I’ve ever been involved in in my racing life,” said a frustrated Hayes from Australia, pointing to a fake social media account as the source of the rumours.
“I’ve had the stewards and 20 media ringing me and I’m just saying ‘guys, the horse is back to his winning weight, he’s eating, he hasn’t missed a trick in his work since the trial and he’s galloping in the morning’.
“The horse is flying – he’s absolutely in peak form. I honestly cannot believe it. There is nothing to worry about.”
Ka Ying Rising will have his final serious gallop at Canterbury on Monday and Hayes is looking forward to seeing the horse show everyone just how well he is travelling.
Another Hayes-trained sprinter is also in fine fettle, although the Hall of Fame handler admitted he couldn’t fully enjoy Tomodachi Kokoroe’s win in Sunday’s Class Two Shing Mun Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin.
“I didn’t even enjoy the win, I’m that upset with this Ka Ying stuff,” said Hayes.
Jubilant Jamie
He might not have won like a $1.25 pop, but Jubilant Winner dug deep to make it back-to-back wins for trainer Jamie Richards and jockey Andrea Atzeni on Sunday.
Sent off at the Ka Ying Rising-like quote in the first section of the Class Four Kwok Shui Handicap (1,200m), Jubilant Winner tracked the leader Incredible Moment throughout and took the entire straight to reel that horse in.
Incredible Moment drifted off the inside rail towards the centre of the track and gave a huge sight in front, but Jubilant Winner edged ahead just before the finishing post to score by a neck. All’s Well was a distant third, two lengths adrift of the winner.
“He’s just a horse that’s needed a little bit of time to strengthen up and he was running well all of last season without getting his nose in front,” Richards said of Jubilant Winner.
“The owners have been very patient and it’s good to see him put a couple together. He didn’t win like a $1.20 shot but anyway, we’ll take it and move forward and he’ll get another go in Class Four.
“I thought he was always going to get [Incredible Moment]. The second horse did roll out quite a lot off the fence, which probably just impeded his concentration a bit, but he got there on the line and we know he can go a bit further when he’s ready.”
Jubilant Winner continued Richards’ impressive start to the season, delivering the Kiwi handler his seventh triumph.
Atzeni, who moved to six victories for the term, warmed up for his latest overseas assignment – the Group One Caulfield Cup (2,400m) ride on Meydaan on Saturday.
“It’s brilliant to be able to travel and it’s great that the Club allows us to do it, obviously without missing races here, and to ride in the Arc last week and the Caulfield Cup this weekend is absolutely brilliant,” said Atzeni, who is fresh from finishing fourth on Giavellotto in the Group One Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2,400m) in France a week ago.
Jockey Club unveils members’ entrance
The Jockey Club unveiled its “newly reimagined” members’ entrance at Sha Tin on Sunday with the improvements designed to create “a refined arrival experience for members and guests”.
A 58m-long canopy is the highlight of an expanded pickup and drop-off area that features 21 covered bays across three traffic lanes and ensures smooth and safe access.
“Designed with understated elegance and modern convenience in mind, the new entrance offers a seamless and welcoming transition into the racecourse,” the Jockey Club said in a statement.
“Inside, guests are greeted by a spacious two-level lobby, finished in warm timber and stone textures. Large LED screens display curated messages, information and race day visuals, adding vibrancy to the space and setting the tone for the day ahead.”
