The future of Ka Ying Rising is an exciting prospect, and 2026 promises to be a year of historic achievements. The world's fastest sprinter is on a path to greatness, but will he be able to surpass the legends?
David Hayes' champion sprinter is set to begin the year with a bang, aiming to match the incredible record of Silent Witness, a legendary sprinter who dominated the tracks from 2002 to 2005. Ka Ying Rising will kick off his campaign in the prestigious Group 1 Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin on January 25th, where he'll have the chance to equal Silent Witness' record of 17 consecutive wins.
But here's where it gets controversial... Ka Ying Rising will then attempt to break that record in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup, a race that holds a special significance. It was in this very race, back in 2005, that Silent Witness achieved his final victory in that remarkable streak. Can Ka Ying Rising surpass this iconic moment in horse racing history?
As the season progresses, Ka Ying Rising's sights will be set on the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize, a race that will be part of Hong Kong's Champions Day meeting on April 26th. To prepare, he'll first compete in the G2 Sprint Cup earlier in the month. A well-deserved rest will follow, as he gears up for an ambitious goal - to become only the second horse to win The Everest two years in a row, following in the hoofsteps of Redzel.
The Chief Executive's Cup, run under handicap conditions, is the only suitable lead-up race to The Everest in Hong Kong. So, it's highly likely that Ka Ying Rising will once again head in this direction, aiming to conquer a race he's already won twice. If he doesn't travel to Hong Kong, Australian racing fans will have the privilege of witnessing his talent at Randwick in The Everest on October 17th, where he'll represent the Hong Kong Jockey Club's slot.
Upon his return to Hong Kong, Ka Ying Rising will have the opportunity to create further history. After a warm-up run in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint in November, he'll attempt to achieve an unprecedented feat - becoming the first horse to win three Hong Kong Sprints at the Hong Kong International Races on the second Sunday of December. This race will also mark his final appearance for the year 2026.
If all goes according to plan, Ka Ying Rising will end the year on a remarkable 24-race winning streak, just one win shy of Black Caviar's legendary record. Will he be able to bridge that gap and etch his name in the annals of horse racing history? Only time will tell.
KA YING RISING'S LIKELY PATH IN 2026
- G1 Centenary Sprint Cup, Sha Tin, 1200m, January 25th
- G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup, Sha Tin, 1400m, February 22nd
- G2 Sprint Cup, Sha Tin, 1200m, April 6th
- G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize, Sha Tin, 1200m, April 26th
- Chief Executive's Cup, Sha Tin, 1200m, September 6th (TBC)
- G1 The Everest, Randwick, 1200m, October 17th
- G2 Jockey Club Sprint, Sha Tin, 1200m, November 22nd (TBC)
- G1 Hong Kong Sprint, Sha Tin, 1200m, December 13th
