Hong Kong-trained horses dominate the March edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, which were released on Thursday, 12 March, with Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior occupying the top two spots.
David Hayes-trained Ka Ying Rising maintained his position as the top-rated horse in training with an international rating of 128, while Danny Shum’s Romantic Warrior was ranked second with a rating of 124.
Japan’s dirt giant Forever Young, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, was third with a rating of 123, while the Karl Burke-trained eight-year-old Royal Champion was fourth, rated 122.
From the United States of America, Bob Baffert charge Nysos rounded out the top five of the March list, rated 121.
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Ka Ying Rising, raced by the Ka Ying Syndicate, broke the record for consecutive wins by a Hong Kong-trained horse when he added an 18th straight triumph to his already glittering CV with victory in the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup on 22 February.
It was the five-year-old’s eighth Group 1 success and sixth win this season.
Romantic Warrior was at his peerless best when the eight-year-old, owned by Peter Lau, blitzed the field to claim a record-extending 13th Group 1 victory in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup on 1 March.
Both horses are focused on domestic glory for the remainder of this season:
Ka Ying Rising is aiming to retain his Hong Kong Speed Series honours with victory in April’s G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize, while the world’s highest-earning horse Romantic Warrior is looking to complete the Triple Crown with a win in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup on 24 May.
Ka Ying Rising next races in Easter Monday’s (6 April) G2 Sprint Cup at Sha Tin when he goes for a 19th win in succession before heading to the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize on FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on 26 April.
Romantic Warrior could also be in action on FWD Champions Day, with Danny Shum’s eight-year-old potentially heading to the G1 FWD QEII Cup.
Hong Kong boasts four entries in the top 20 of the March edition of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.
Manfred Man’s Lucky Sweynesse is ranked joint-11th with an international rating of 118, while John Size-trained Helios Express is joint-15th with a rating of 117.
Racing in Hong Kong continues at Sha Tin on Sunday 15 March.
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