Photo: HKJC
Marton horseman Fraser Auret has a number of Group One victories to his name as a trainer, but in the coming months he is hoping to add a maiden Group One breeding success to his record through the deeds of Hong Kong sprinting sensation Ka Ying Rising.
The exciting son of Shamexpress is on a path towards the HK$26 million Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) in December, and continued his dream run to the feature sprint with a dominant victory in the Gr.2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
It was the seventh victory from just nine starts for the David Hayes-trained four-year-old, who is undefeated this preparation, having won first-up over 1200m at Sha Tin last month.
Auret was delighted with what he saw on Sunday and is excited to see what the first horse he bred can do in the coming months.
“I think he was .07 seconds outside of the track record and he was being eased down. It’s pretty scary to think what he is doing,” Auret said.
“It is a massive thrill, especially as a self-professed amateur when it comes to breeding. I think there was a lot of beginner’s luck included in there.
“Seeing him as a foal and develop right the way through has been very special. He is taking everyone on an amazing journey.”
Ka Ying Rising is out of the Per Incanto mare Missy Moo, who Auret trained to win five races, and ran fourth in the 2018 edition of the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ (2000m). With her owner not wanting to breed from the mare, Auret thought he would chance his arm and breed from her himself, identifying Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress as an ideal mating.
“We were actually doing a bit of work for Windsor Park at the time and Shamexpress has always done a great job,” Auret said. “He has got some amazing stats, so it was a very easy decision to send her there to him.”
Auret was pleased with the resulting foal, who continued to impress the respected horseman through his early education.
“He was beautiful,” Auret said. “He was a really cracking foal, especially for a first foal. All the way through to the breaking in, he always had that really professional, natural racehorse mentality. We always felt like he was destined for big things right from that early stage.”
It didn’t take long for Ka Ying Rising’s talents to be noticed, with bloodstock agents circling following his first public hit-out.
“He went to the jump outs at Levin and was mightily impressive down there,” Auret said. “He was sold privately just on the back of that, he didn’t even get to the trials. You could clearly see in his jump outs that he was destined for a high level.”
Lindsay Park were the lucky party to secure Ka Ying Rising, who continued his early preparation at their Victorian property before heading to Hong Kong late last year.
Ka Ying Rising struck immediately, winning on debut over 1200m at Sha Tin in the hands of Champion Hong Kong Jockey Zac Purton. He then posted four victories, including taking out the Gr.3 The Sha Tin Vase (1200m), on his way to being crowned last season’s Champion Griffin and Most Improved Horse.
Impressed by her first foal, Auret elected to breed from Missy Moo once more, this time heading to Windsor Park stallion Turn Me Loose.
Auret was just as pleased with the resulting foal, who has followed the exact same path as his year older brother.
“He (Turn Me Loose gelding) has gone exactly the same way,” Auret said. “He was also sold to Lindsay Park and he had one trial in Melbourne for a win and he is just coming out of quarantine up in Hong Kong at the moment.
“Like a lot of brothers, you never really know if they are going to be that similar, but the Turn Me Loose was an absolutely strapping horse as well, so I am sure he is going on to bigger and brighter things.”
Unfortunately, Missy Moo had to be euthanised following an ongoing issue, and while Auret doesn’t have anything to breed from in the family, he is hoping he can replicate the same success through another member of his broodmare band.
“Through her (Missy Moo) racing career she had some arthritis in her back leg,” Auret said. “When she was in-foal with the Turn Me Loose, the arthritis (came back) and the more pregnant she was getting, the lamer she was getting. We made the sad but right decision to have her put down once she had the foal and nursed him through. It was unfortunate, but their welfare always comes first.
“We just have those two lovely boys (out of her), and we are certainly enjoying the ride. I have found myself with another couple of mares and we will see whether lightning can strike somewhere else.
“We are certainly not in any way a commercial operation, they are just a couple of nice race mares, and we will see what happens in the future.”
Following his victory at Sha Tin on Sunday, Ka Ying Rising is set to return to the Hong Kong track next month to tackle the Gr.1 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) on November 17 ahead of the HK$26 million LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on December 8.
Auret is keen to head to Hong Kong to watch Ka Ying Rising compete at the famed Hong Kong International Races meeting but said his workload at that busy time of year will dictate whether he can.
“I am keen to (go to Hong Kong) if I can spring the weekend off,” Auret said. “It is a very busy time of year so we will have a look at that a bit closer to the time. It would certainly be lovely, but we do have a lot of commitments here as well.”
