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Arthur Cooper, our man on the ground in Hong Kong, takes a look at the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin…
Ka Ying Rising will be a very short-priced favourite to win the Group 1 (G1) LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) having won eight of his ten starts. All races have been over course and distance with the past seven wins in succession.
Trained by Australian ex-pat David Hayes, Ka Ying Rising broke Sacred Kingdom's long-standing track record at his last start in the G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) winning easily.
Ka Ying Rising will have to defy the widest barrier of all if he is to claim Group 1 victory on Sunday, but trainer David Hayes is happy to look at the positives.
He said: "You'd prefer to be closer to the rail, but he is probably no chance of getting boxed in…I think Zac (Purton - jockey) will be able to appear when he wants and he has got great gate speed and a lot of those inside of him haven't, so he should cruise across into quite a good spot.
"Hopefully he doesn't get caught three-wide, that's all."
The UK is represented with last start Del Mar Breeders Cup Turf Sprint winner Starlust. Trained by Ralph Beckett he will be aiming for back-to-back G1 successes as he continues his round-the-world venture.
Following trackwork on Thursday, Beckett commented: "We've come to the conclusion that a flat track around a bend suits him best so the way it sets up here is ideal for him. He came out of Del Mar in good shape.
"Everything went his way that day at Del Mar, I'm well aware of that, but you've still got to get it done and he did. I think there's a good chance he'll run well on Sunday, but we shall see whether that's good enough. He looks great, he hasn't been clipped and is still holding his coat really well. It's his 11th start of the year, he started in January in Dubai and he's still at it."
The Japanese have three horses engaged – Lugal, Toshin Macau and Satono Reve. All three horses contested the G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) at Nakayama in September respectively winning and finishing second and seventh.
Despite the barrier draw, it is hard to see Ka Ying Rising being defeated.