The world’s greatest sprinter claimed his 18th consecutive win to surpass the legendary Silent Witness
History at Sha Tin
On Sunday, February 22, 2026, the sporting world witnessed something rare: a record that had stood for more than two decades shattered so comprehensively that the horse who set it barely seemed to notice. Ka Ying Rising, trained by David Hayes and ridden by jockey Zac Purton, won the Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong to claim his 18th consecutive victory, surpassing Silent Witness’s long-standing benchmark of 17 successive wins that the beloved champion had accumulated between 2002 and 2005. He won by three and a half lengths. He broke the track record for the 1,400-meter distance by more than half a second, crossing the line in 1 minute 19.36 seconds against a previous record of 1 minute 19.92 seconds. He did it while Purton rode him, by his own account, with more daylight in hand than the margin suggests.
The Making of a Legend
Ka Ying Rising is a five-year-old gelding by the New Zealand-based stallion Shamexpress, unbeaten since February 2024. His 18-win streak includes eight Group One victories spanning two Longines Hong Kong Sprint titles, two Centenary Sprint Cup wins, two Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup victories, the Chairman’s Sprint Prize, and The Everest in Australia, which is the world’s richest turf race. He won The Everest in October 2025, dismantling Australia’s best sprinters on their home turf, a performance that burnished his claim to the title of the world’s best sprinter. He has lowered the track record for 1,200 meters at Sha Tin twice. He has now lowered it at 1,400 meters as well. His trainer has been winning races with Hong Kong horses for decades and calls Ka Ying Rising the opposite of the usual training experience.
What the Jockey Said
Purton, who has partnered Ka Ying Rising in all but two of his 18 successive wins, was almost at a loss for words after Sunday’s race. “He’s the horse of a lifetime,” Purton said. “I just shake my head every time with the performances he puts up and the ease with which he does. I’ve just got to pinch myself, I’m so lucky. He’s just different — he’s in a league of his own.” Purton confirmed that Hayes had given him a specific instruction before the race: break the track record. The jockey delivered on the instruction, letting his mount run freely in the final stages after a race that had been controlled and tactical through the first 1,000 meters. “I had one instruction when I went out there and he said break the track record,” Purton said. “To be etched in history now forever is part of my legacy, part of David’s and a part of Ka Ying Rising.”
Silent Witness and the Weight of History
Breaking Silent Witness’s record inevitably invites comparisons between two great champions separated by two decades of Hong Kong racing history. Silent Witness, an El Moxie gelding, reigned from December 2002 to April 2005, capturing the imagination of Hong Kong racing fans with a dominance that seemed unassailable. His 17 consecutive wins included the Hong Kong Sprint twice, two Centenary Sprint Cups, two Chairman’s Sprint Prizes, and the 2005 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup. He won in Japan. He was a beloved presence at Sha Tin whose bronze statue now stands near the home straight, a permanent monument to his greatness. Ka Ying Rising has already matched Silent Witness’s international ambition by winning in Australia. His trainer believes the horse can continue for another couple of seasons, which means the record may yet extend substantially further. The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s racing archive is the authoritative source for the history of the city’s remarkable racing tradition, which has produced multiple world-class champions across decades.
What This Means for Hong Kong Racing
Hong Kong racing exists in a city that has seen profound political change in recent years, but sport has continued to offer moments of collective celebration that transcend political divisions. The stands at Sha Tin were full on race day, with fans waving yellow flags and holding celebratory banners as Ka Ying Rising returned to the winner’s enclosure. Racing at the highest level requires stable institutions, consistent governance, and international trust — all qualities that the Hong Kong Jockey Club has worked to maintain even as the broader political environment has shifted. The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities recognizes Hong Kong as one of the premier racing jurisdictions in the world, reflecting standards of integrity and horse welfare that have been maintained through successive political changes.
What Comes Next
Hayes has mapped out a tentative schedule for Ka Ying Rising that includes the Sprint Cup on April 6 and the Chairman’s Sprint Prize on April 26, with an eye toward a return to Australia for The Everest later in the year. The trainer says he wants to manage the horse conservatively to preserve him for another couple of seasons, avoiding the temptation to over-race an animal whose soundness is the only thing standing between the current record and something truly historic. A 19th consecutive win would take Ka Ying Rising into territory that few horses in the history of the sport have approached. Whether he gets there will depend on health, form, and the quality of the opposition he faces. On the evidence of what he did at Sha Tin on February 22, the opposition currently has no answers.
Senior Journalist & Editor, Apple Daily UK
Contact: athena.lai@appledaily.uk
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