Ka Ying Rising showed no sign of easing off his relentless march toward history after an authoritative barrier trial win at Sha Tin on Thursday morning, setting the stage for a potential record-equalling run in next week’s G1 Centenary Sprint Cup.

With Silent Witness’ long-standing mark of 17 consecutive wins firmly in his sights, the six-time Group 1 winner looked every inch a horse at the peak of his powers when cruising through a 1200m dirt trial under Zac Purton. He stopped the clock at 1:10.36, skipping clear of Romantic Son by three-and-three-quarter lengths, with Galax Patch third and Helios Express never asked for serious effort in sixth.

Trainer David Hayes was particularly encouraged by what he saw at the start.

“Ka Ying Rising was very good. That was probably the fastest I’ve seen him jump out of the gates,” Hayes said. “His gate speed was incredible and then he was happy to just cruise along and won as you would expect.”

Hayes added that the trial served its purpose as a conditioning exercise rather than a full-blooded test.

“Zac said he had a healthy blow afterwards and that’s why he trials — he needs a tune-up before his race. He’ll have a bit of striding work next week and then some sharper work on Wednesday before he’s ready to go,” Hayes said. “He’s giving the impression he’s not going backwards. He looks right on song for the 25th.”

Ka Ying Rising will attempt to secure a 17th straight victory when he lines up in the HK$13 million G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin on January 25. Silent Witness set the benchmark between December 2002 and April 2005 before his streak was snapped by Bullish Luck in the Champions Mile.

Since narrowly losing twice to Wunderbar as a three-year-old, Ka Ying Rising has been virtually untouchable. From February 2024 onward, he has reeled off 16 consecutive wins, collected six Group 1 trophies, captured the world’s richest sprint, the G1 The Everest, twice broken the Sha Tin 1200m course record, and surged from a rating of 69 to 138 to become Hong Kong’s highest-rated horse.

Crowned Hong Kong Horse of the Year after an unbeaten eight-win 2024/25 campaign, he will be resuming for the first time since his emphatic G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint victory on December 14.

Should he land the Centenary Sprint Cup, Ka Ying Rising would then have the opportunity to take outright ownership of the consecutive-wins record in the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m), the second leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series.

Elsewhere at Sha Tin on Thursday, G1 FWD Champions Mile winner Red Lion had his own pipe-opener ahead of the G1 Stewards’ Cup, finishing second to David Eustace-trained Greater Bae in a 1200m dirt trial. Ridden by Hugh Bowman, Red Lion was beaten three-quarters of a length as Greater Bae stopped the clock at 1:10.81.

Red Lion is set to renew rivalries with Romantic Warrior, Voyage Bubble and My Wish in the Stewards’ Cup, the opening leg of Hong Kong’s Triple Crown, also to be run on January 25.

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday, January 18, with the staging of the 15th National Games Hong Kong Medalists Raceday.