Ka Ying Rising has maintained his position as the top-rated horse in training after returning an international rating of 130, rising two points from March, after April’s LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings were released on Thursday, 14 May.

The David Hayes-trained Ka Ying Rising, a winner of his past 20 consecutive races, currently sits four points clear at the head of the standings, while fellow Hong Kong-trained 14-time Group 1 winner Romantic Warrior also climbs two points to 126 after securing his fourth G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) on FWD Champions Day (26 April).

Superstar eight-year-old Romantic Warrior is joined in second place by Bow Echo and Daryz. The world’s richest horse, who has 23 wins and HK$271.46 million in prizemoney for owner Peter Lau, now sits on a career-high mark on turf following the 127 he achieved on the dirt behind Forever Young in the 2025 G1 Saudi Cup (1800m).

Charlie Appleby’s Group 1 winner Opera Ballo is fifth with a rating of 124, equal to Saffie Joseph Jr’s White Abarrio, who is trained in the United States of America and rounds out April’s top five. Forever Young trails on 123, while Croix du Nord, Magnitude, Masquerade Ball, Royal Champion and Sovereignty each rated 122.

Five-year-old Ka Ying Rising broke his own track record twice in April. Having already held the best 1200m time at Sha Tin (1m 07.20s set in 2025), the now nine-time Group 1 winner returned a 1m 07.12s in the G2 Sprint Cup (1200m) on 6 April before his improved 1m 07.10s in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) on 26 April.

Ka Ying Rising closed his second successive undefeated season by claiming another HK$5 million Hong Kong Speed Series, following wins in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m), G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and Chairman’s Sprint Prize.

Hong Kong International Sale graduate Romantic Warrior is aiming to close out his 2025/26 campaign by becoming the third horse – after River Verdon (1993/94) and Voyage Bubble last season – to secure the Triple Crown when he lines up in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m), on Sunday, 24 May at Sha Tin.

Voyage Bubble is Hong Kong’s next highest-rated horse on 119.

Photo: HKJC