New Zealand-bred sprinting sensation Ka Ying Rising has been crowned Timeform’s Horse of the Year following his unbeaten streak of eight victories in 2025, five of those at elite-level, and earning a world-leading rating of 135.

The son of Shamepress reached that rating when victorious in the Chief Executive’s Cup (1200m) in September, his final run in Hong Kong before heading to Australia where he took out the A$20 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick.

He returned to Hong Kong where he continued his winning ways in the Gr.2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) before defending his crown in the Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), 12 months on from recording his first elite-level win in the race.

Receiving the award, trainer David Hayes said it was an honour to have a horse of Ka Ying Rising’s quality in his care.

“It is such a great honour to have a horse that could be rated this high,” he said.

"It's been the perfect season really. He keeps stepping up and probably this win (in the Hong Kong Sprint) was his best, it was against the best and was his most dominant win. He just absorbs so much pressure so easily and then puts the race away - he's a freak.”

Ka Ying Rising’s rating is just one point shy of Australia’s Black Caviar, who was undefeated in her 25-start career, 15 of those at Group One level, including her memorable Gr.1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) victory at Royal Ascot.

While Hayes thought Ka Ying Rising was a bit stiff not to be given a higher rating for his Hong Kong Sprint victory, he believes it is only a matter of time before his gelding reaches the mark set by Black Caviar and Battaash, the only two sprinters with a higher Timeform rating than him this century.

“I think they were a bit hard, he got no penalty for winning the international sprint, I don’t know what more he could have done,” Hayes said. “I think that 136 mark is just a matter of time.

"He's the best I've trained. The best I've seen? I'm a huge Black Caviar fan, you didn't see the best of her in England but she's an out-and-out champion, probably the best I've seen.

“I think at the 18-run mark he's doing comparable things to her and if he can continue for another 12 months we might be able to compare him to her, and that's incredible to think you can have a horse at that level.”

Hayes said the highlight of last year was heading back to Australia with Ka Ying Rising to win The Everest.

“Hong Kong sprinting ranks are wonderfully high, but then to go down to Australia and beat Australia’s best in the richest turf race really put him on the list,” he said. “Hopefully we can do it all again in the next 12 months.”

Ka Ying Rising is on the cusp of setting another record in Hong Kong, with Silent Witness’ 17-race winning streak firmly in his sights, and he has the opportunity of equalling that mark in next Sunday’s Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin.

“Silent Witness is a Hong Kong all-time great,” Hayes said. “To equal his record in a pretty short time really (is great). He will be favourite to do it and I will be relieved when it is over.

“Track work and trials suggest he hasn’t gone backward from his brilliant win the other day.”

Bred by Marton trainer Fraser Auret, and his wife Erin, under their Grandmoral Lodge banner, Ka Ying Rising was initially trained by the well-respected horseman for whom he won a jumpout at Levin.

Following that performance, he was purchased by Linday Park and won a trial in Australia before joining David Hayes’ Hong Kong barn where he has won 16 of his 18 starts, including six at elite-level, and earned more than $27 million in prizemoney.