Low draw not expected to hamper formidable Ka Ying Rising

David Hayes has played down concerns about an inside draw for Ka Ying Rising, as he bids for a 16th consecutive victory in Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin.

The five-year-old is the highest-rated sprinter in the world and has not tasted defeat in just under two years, sealing his position as the global leader when venturing away from Hong Kong for the first time for a comfortable success in The Everest at Randwick in Australia in October.

Ka Ying Rising will start from stall one for the first time in his career on Sunday, but Hayes believes it could even be a bonus, as long as the Shamexpress gelding does not make any stalls mistakes.

He said: “I think the shortest way home is the rail. He is the fastest horse in the world, so unless he makes a proper blooper out of the gates, it has to be a huge advantage.

“My only reservation is if he did accidentally flop the start – but flopping the start from barrier 12 or 10 is just as bad anyway.”

Ka Ying Rising broke his own six-furlong course record in his warm-up run and he was certainly not hard-pressed in winning by two and three-quarter lengths.

Hayes said: “I think he is in what you would call his golden era. I think last year he was a bit immature and this year, he is a bigger, (more) powerful horse.

“We really felt going into his last race that he is at a level he has never been. Visually it looked that way and he nearly smashed the course record, easing down from the 200 (metres). It was a fairly easy watch.”

Ka Ying Rising is a 1-12 favourite with William Hill, who rate Royal Ascot runner-up Satono Reve the next best at 10-1 but Hayes says it will not be “a walk in the park” nevertheless.

He added: “I hope the market is right but I have a lot of respect for those big international races. They are not easy to compete in and those horses are coming out of those.”

British hopes rest with the Charlie Hills-trained Khaadem, who has defied his advancing years with two placed efforts and a win in Graded company America of late.

He took a fine third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint last time and the dual Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner has been delighting his handler.

He said: “He looks fantastic and his weight is good. He seems nice and happy. He was on the turf earlier this week and we haven’t done too much with him. He did a lovely piece of work last week just before he got on the plane.”