Hong Kong’s unbeaten champion goes for a record 18th straight win in the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup
Ka Ying Rising Eyes a Place in the History Books
Hong Kong racing is holding its breath. On Sunday at Sha Tin, trainer David Hayes will saddle Ka Ying Rising in the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup, a US$1.66 million contest run at approximately seven furlongs, with one goal in mind: to break the all-time record for consecutive wins by a Hong Kong-trained horse. The five-year-old son of Shamexpress currently sits level on 17 straight victories with the legendary Silent Witness, and a single dominant performance would write his name into the history of the sport forever.
A Streak That Defies Belief
Ka Ying Rising’s unbeaten run began in February 2024 and has since grown into one of the most extraordinary sequences in Asian racing. Across those 17 victories, the horse has collected seven Group 1 crowns and earned titles as Hong Kong champion griffin, champion sprinter, champion four-year-old, and Horse of the Year. His career prize earnings now stand at HK$129.85 million from 20 starts, with his only two defeats coming in his debut season before he found his extraordinary form. He heads into Sunday’s race as a one-dollar favourite, a reflection of just how dominant he has been.
Hayes on the Record Attempt
Trainer David Hayes has spoken candidly about the weight and wonder of this moment. He described Ka Ying Rising’s recent trackwork as perfectly routine, noting the horse is bigger, stronger, and better than he was a year ago when he won this very race by a length and a half. Hayes praised the consistency of his team and noted the surreal feeling of saddling a one-dollar favourite in a Group 1 race — an experience he said very few trainers ever encounter. He will be nervous on the day, he admits, but that nerves come from respect for both the occasion and the horse, not from doubt about his readiness.
Jockey Zac Purton, one of Hong Kong’s greatest-ever riders, will be aboard again. Hayes described Purton as uncomplicated on the horse, saying he reads Ka Ying Rising’s running style perfectly: if the pace is slow, he leads; if the pace is hot, he sits in second or third and pounces. Ka Ying Rising drew barrier three for Sunday’s race, giving him a clean run from the gate.
The Competition He Faces
The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup is no gift. Among the nine rivals Ka Ying Rising will face, Helios Express is considered best-suited to the 1400-metre distance and represents the most credible threat. Lucky Sweynesse returns in good form, while Galaxy Patch and Sunlight Power are proven Group-level performers. All runners carry 126lb in this weight-for-age contest. Hayes was measured in his assessment, noting that if it were a handicap, Ka Ying Rising would likely be giving many rivals 20 pounds. His faith in his horse is total, but so is his respect for the occasion.
His Global Ambitions
Ka Ying Rising is not just a Hong Kong story. His resume already includes the 2025 G1 The Everest at Royal Randwick in Sydney, one of the world’s richest sprint races with a purse of US$14.1 million. Hayes has indicated the horse is being pointed toward The Everest again later in 2026, meaning Sunday’s record attempt is only one chapter in a story that continues to expand beyond Asia. The Hong Kong Jockey Club, which sponsors race coverage, has long positioned Sha Tin as a world-class venue, and Ka Ying Rising is the finest advertisement for that claim the city has produced in a generation. For more on the history of Hong Kong racing and the legacy of Silent Witness, the Hong Kong Jockey Club maintains comprehensive records of the sport’s greatest champions. Racing analysts at Racing Post have covered Ka Ying Rising’s streak extensively and provide deep context for international observers. The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities tracks global records and rankings for horses competing at this elite level.
What the Record Means
Silent Witness, the horse Ka Ying Rising is chasing, is an icon in Hong Kong. Trained by Tony Cruz and ridden through his record streak by Felix Coetzee, Silent Witness won 17 races in a row between 2003 and 2005, captivating the city and putting Hong Kong sprinting on the global map. Breaking that record would not diminish Silent Witness — nothing could — but it would confirm that Ka Ying Rising belongs in the same conversation. Hayes and his team have done everything right. Sunday belongs to the horse. All of Hong Kong will be watching.
Emily Chan
Investigative & Social Affairs Journalist, Apple Daily UK
Contact: emily.chan@appledaily.uk
Emily Chan is an experienced investigative and social affairs journalist whose reporting centers on public accountability, social justice, and community-level impact. She received formal journalism training at a top-tier Chinese journalism school, where she specialized in investigative methods, data verification, and media ethics, preparing her for high-responsibility reporting roles.
Emily has published extensively with Apple Daily and other liberal Chinese newspapers, producing in-depth coverage on labor rights, education policy, civil society organizations, and government transparency. Her work is grounded in firsthand reporting, long-form interviews, and careful document review, ensuring factual accuracy and contextual depth.
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