Undeniable
Here we are at the end of the season and it seems to have passed in a flash.
Highlights were many and the annual Breeders’ Awards, held this past Saturday, provide a timely reminder of the successes enjoyed by the New Zealand industry for 2024-25.
In particular were the deeds of Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress), named Horse of the Year, and his dam, Missy Moo (Per Incanto), named Eight Carat Broodmare of the Year. Superstar Ka Ying Rising’s four Group 1s and unbeaten sequence of eight wins for the season have brought fully justified major accolades and the New Zealand-bred four-year-old is currently rated as the best sprinter in the world.
Fraser Auret trained his dam, Missy Moo, a $500 purchase as a yearling from the supplementary catalogue at the 2014 NZB May Mixed Sale. Auret trained her to win five times, scoring wins from 1200 metres to 2050 metres and she had her last start over 3200 metres in the 2019 Group 1 Wellington Cup. Missy Moo’s best placing was a fourth in the Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 3, 2000m), the margins that year being a head, a half-head and a long-head.
Missy Moo’s owner was not interested in breeding from her so Auret’s small breeding empire Grandmoral Lodge took over and decided on Windsor Park Stud’s Shamexpress (O’Reilly) as her first mate, the result: Ka Ying Rising. Auret’s children named him “Rocket” which has turned out to be somewhat prophetic. Missy Moo had a second colt, named Ka Ying Glory (Turn Me Loose), who has placed once in three Hong Kong starts but, sadly, the mare had to be euthanized in 2021. Auret and his Grandmoral Lodge gained the Luigi Muollo Small Breeder of the Year Award.
“Rocket” had his early education with Auret but upon being sold to Australian interests gained a new name of Mr Express, also prophetic, and won a barrier trial as a late two-year-old at Moe then was exported to Hong Kong on July 31. From October the gelding continued with his trial form by landing five on the trot before his race winning debut at Sha Tin in early December. In January 2024, Ka Ying Rising was twice second but since then has not tasted defeat, rounding out his 3YO career with four wins culminating with his maiden stakes success in the Sha Tin Vase (Gr 3, 1200m). Something was brewing.
Four Group 1s
At four he was unstoppable, starting the season quietly in September over 1200 metres in the Chief Executive’s Cup before stepping up to Group 2 level the following month in the Premier Bowl (1200m). Zac Purton had him third into the straight, levelled up at the 300 metres but didn’t give him a shake until the 200 metres where he ran clear then was eased to win easily in a slashing 1:07.57.
The Jockey Club Sprint (Gr 2, 1200m) in November was next, a virtual replay of the Premier Bowl. Again Purton sat him third into the straight, levelled up at the 300 metres then they broke clear at the 200 metres. Eased again, the margin this time was three and a quarter lengths but in a faster 1:07.43.
Three weeks later he was tested for the first time at Group 1 level in the Hong Kong Sprint (1200m). The pattern was similar despite having to be used early after a tardy beginning. Second into line, he had the lead inside the 200 metres, went clear at the 100 metres but had to be kept up to his work to score by a half-length, the time 1:08.15.
Mid January saw him return in the Centenary Sprint Cup (Gr 1, 1200m) and if there were any doubts about his Group 1 ability they were dispelled with complete authority this time around. Purton took no chances from the jump and from the outside stall immediately sent him to the front. They had a clear lead into the straight but from the 300 metres he drew clear and past the 100 metres the chasers were six lengths in arrears. Near the post, Purton dropped his hands, the margin was three and a quarter lengths but the time was a crushing 1:07.20, and he did it on his ear.
A month later was the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup and Ka Ying Rising tackled 1400 metres for the first time. As well, he was partnered for the first time by a new jockey, Karis Teetan. Second out and just back of the pace into the straight, he took over at the 300 metres and appeared slightly flat but from the 100 metres put the race away to score by a length and a half in a sharp 1:20.33 for the 1400 metres. This equated to 1:08.85 for 1200 metres.
A short let up of six weeks preceded the Sprint Cup (Gr 2, 1200m) and Purton was back on board. He was content to sit second to the top of the straight, led inside the 400 metres and booted clear by five at the 200 metres. Again eased, he still had three lengths up his sleeve at the line, in a time of 1:08.18.
Late April was the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (Gr 1, 1200m) and unusually Ka Ying Rising was fifth when they reached the end of the back straight and Purton was not afraid to be four deep and three lengths from the lead rounding into the home straight. They pounced at the 300 metres to be level, then, as expected, took off and were well clear at the 100 metres and had two and half lengths on them in 1:07.88 and 12 wins in succession.
His future is truly exciting as all eyes will be focussed on Randwick in October for The Everest (Gr 1, 1200m). Ka Ying Rising’s presence will be front and centre and the New Zealand breeding industry will be on its toes.
No close breeding rellies
Subsequent to Ka Ying Rising’s stardom, Andrew Stewart of Arion Pedigrees researched Missy Moo’s close relatives only to discover that Missy Moo is the only filly from her dam, Royal Rhythm (Rhythm), whose first eight foals were colts, seven of which were bred by none other than Te Akau’s David Ellis (in partnership).
Ellis purchased Royal Rhythm for $57,500 in 2000 at NZB’s Karaka Premier Yearling Sale (presumably for syndication) then bought her again outright when she was offered at NZB’s 2002 May Mixed Sale. In 2011 Royal Rhythm was back at Karaka as a broodmare and made just $1000.
In keeping with well-known identities, Royal Rhythm was bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan and was a daughter of Her Dynasty (Sir Tristram) who produced ten foals, four of which were fillies. One was It’s A Secret (Don’t Forget Me) who foaled a three-quarter sister to Royal Rhythm named Nevak (Rhythm). Nevak produced two Group performers, namely Dr Velocious (Haradasun) and Sir Jack Gunno (Keeper).
Ka Ying Rising, Dr Velocious and Sir Jack Gunno are the only black-type performers to descend from Her Dynasty whose best winner was Inter Musician (Palace Music), a 15-race winner who recorded wins at Randwick, Flemington, Caulfield, Moonee Valley and Ellerslie.
Her Dynasty was regally bred, claiming as her full relations Group 1 winners Sovereign Red, Gurner’s Lane and Trichelle. Another sister was Listed winner Queen’s Choice and yet another was Delia’s Choice, the great grandam of nine times Group 1 champion Mr Brightside (Bullbars).
Interestingly, Mr Brightside is trained by the Hayes family in Melbourne and that is where Mr Express/Ka Ying Rising was sent in March of 2023. Did the Hayes camp know the blood connection between the two?
Mr Brightside’s dam, Lilahjay (Tavistock), was the second of four nominees for the Broodmare of the Year title and was defending her crown from 2024. Mr Brightside scored four Group 1s last season and followed that up with a further three in 2024-25. In a tough school, the third nominee was Sombreuil (Flying Spur), dam of dual Group 1 winner Provence (Savabeel) and of inaugural NZB Kiwi (Listed, 1500m) winner Damask Rose (Savabeel). The fourth nominee was Strictly Maternal (O’Reilly), the dam of El Vencedor (Shocking) who landed three Group 1s for the season.
Perfect segway
Ka Ying Rising’s dam is by Per Incanto (Street Cry) and in a perfect segway, Per Incanto claimed a major title, the Centaine Award, which recognises New Zealand based stallions on the world stage. Worldwide, Per Incanto’s stock earned more than $20 million, a total bolstered by an outstanding year in Australia where he sired five individual stakes winners of eight stakes and $10.8 million, to be 15th and the leading New Zealand based sire on the Australian sire listing.
Perhaps the most excited studmaster is Sam Williams of Little Avondale Stud and rightly so. It has been a breakout year for Per Incanto and in October Williams will be closely monitoring The Everest. Star sprinter and a dual Group 1 winner this past season, Jimmysstar (Per Incanto) has won a slot in the race and therefore a clash with Ka Ying Rising. If either should win, Per Incanto will be a major part of the celebrations. What odds the quinella?
In so doing, Per Incanto broke a stranglehold on the Centaine Award which for the previous nine seasons had been the domain of multiple champion sire Savabeel (Zabeel). It had to happen at some stage but Savabeel achieved some sort of recompense when taking back the Grosvenor Award as the leading New Zealand Sire after losing that title to Proisir (Choisir) in 2023-24. In reclaiming the title, Savabeel has now won ten of the last 11 premierships.
The Deward Award, presented to the sire with the highest Australian and New Zealand combined earnings, also went to Savabeeel, his sixth in succession and tenth in the last 11 years, broken by his barnmate Ocean Park (Thorn Park) in 2019-20.
Waikato Stud was named Breeder of the Year and their domination of all things sires continued with the New Zealand Broodmare Sire title going to O’Reilly (Last Tycoon), his sixth overall and fourth in succession.
A fine representative
The Young Achiever Award went to Jack Stewart of White Robe Lodge Stud. Jack’s mum is Karen, daughter of maestro Brian Anderton, ONZM, founder of White Robe Lodge Stud and a member of the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.
The writer had the pleasure of spending an evening at the stud last November. The Andertons are a wonderful family and highly respected in everything they do. Jack has a great ancestry. Parents Wayne and Karen will be delighted. So will Grandad.