With no disrespect to Romantic Warrior and what he has achieved this season, the Horse of the Year is clearly Ka Ying Rising.

The debate has raged since star jockey James McDonald made his case for Romantic Warrior in the wake of his Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) triumph, which sealed Triple Crown redemption and added another chapter to his legacy as an immortal of Hong Kong racing.

McDonald and Ka Ying Rising’s jockey, Zac Purton, went head to head on Australian radio on Thursday, stating their cases for their respective champion gallopers.

But when it’s all said and done, it is difficult to imagine the Horse of the Year voting panel – which consists of three Jockey Club officials and three members of the media – siding with Romantic Warrior over Ka Ying Rising.

While some expected Voyage Bubble to claim the award for his Triple Crown glory – the first horse to achieve the feat in 31 years – last season, it was Ka Ying Rising that was crowned Horse of the Year after continuing his stunning rise with eight wins, including four Group Ones, from as many starts.

This term, David Hayes’ superstar has risen to new heights, adding a famous victory in the world’s richest turf race – the A$20 million (HK$111.5 million) The Everest (1,200m) at Randwick – to his second straight unbeaten campaign.

“Now I know you’re going to make the argument [Romantic Warrior] won the Triple Crown, Voyage Bubble won the Triple Crown last year and didn’t win Horse of the Year,” Purton told SEN Radio.

“Just because you’re unbeaten doesn’t mean you’re going to win it. Just because you’ve won the Triple Crown obviously doesn’t mean you’re going to win it.

“But if we look at Ka Ying Rising and what he did this season – he had eight starts for eight wins, he was unbeaten, five Group Ones including The Everest down there in Australia, so he travelled overseas to win an international Group One race against the best sprinters in the world.

“He won HK$92 million in season stakes, that’s more than the HK$74 million that Romantic Warrior won.

“He’s judged the highest-rated horse in the world by the Longines World’s Best Ratings on a rating of 130. Romantic Warrior’s rating is 126.

“Timeform rated Ka Ying Rising the best sprinter in the last 50 years – better than Black Caviar. So, for people in Australia who thought Black Caviar was the best horse in the world, Ka Ying Rising has to win Horse of the Year in Hong Kong.

“Ka Ying Rising broke the track record three times in Hong Kong. He’s now the highest-rated horse in Hong Kong history domestically on a rating of 142, so when you look at everything that Ka Ying Rising’s done this season, compared to Romantic Warrior and Romantic Warrior is an incredible horse, it’s not even a debate for Horse of the Year.”

Purton’s case is compelling. McDonald claimed Romantic Warrior’s record-extending fourth consecutive Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) win, record-extending four Group One QEII Cup (2,000m) successes and becoming only the third horse to claim Triple Crown glory made him a “no-brainer” pick for Horse of the Year.

While Hayes said earlier this week that Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior should share Horse of the Year honours, both Purton and McDonald believe it is an award that should not be shared. That view is shared by the Jockey Club on all of its annual awards.

Wong’s Valley breakthrough

The long wait for a Happy Valley victory is finally over for Britney Wong Po-ni after the apprentice booted home Tony Cruz’s Son Pak Fu on Wednesday night.

Wong, who has ridden 28 winners at Sha Tin over the past two seasons, took her first ride at the city circuit last November and was delighted to snap a frustrating streak of placings at the famous track.

“I am very glad and before this win I had ridden eight seconds here already, so we were that close but not winning,” Wong said.

“I’m very happy that we got the win today and I’m very grateful for Tony’s support and it’s such a great honour to be riding winners for him – and to get my first winner here at Happy Valley.”

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