KARIS TEETAN CONFIRMED TO RIDE BOOM SPRINTER KA YING RISING IN SHA TIN VASE

Mauritian jockey replaces Zac Purton aboard the emerging young speedster for next month's Group Three feature

Karis Teetan is excited to partner boom sprinter Ka Ying Rising for the first time after picking up the prized ride for the Group Three Sha Tin Vase (1,200m) on June 2.

With regular jockey Zac Purton committed to riding Voyage Bubble in Japan that day and Ka Ying Rising set to be on the minimum weight, Teetan put his hand up for the ride and was rewarded with the golden opportunity by David Hayes.

The Shamexpress gelding will make the leap to feature company after four wins from six starts, headlined by a jaw-dropping Class Two victory at Sha Tin last Sunday.

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Despite being eased down by Purton over the final 150m, Ka Ying Rising bolted in by two and a half lengths in the Brandy Snap Handicap (1,200m), prompting Hayes to raise the bar for his up-and-coming speedster.

"He won the race pretty well and David said he preferred the horse getting a lighter weight as a young horse, instead of running in a lower race with a big weight, so I took the opportunity to ask him about it and he gave me the chance," Teetan said.

"He's an interesting horse. He looks like he's got a bright future in Hong Kong.

"It looks like he's come on a lot since his other wins. He's going to go into a race where he has no weight on his back and if he continues to improve, he's going to be a good chance."

Hayes, who is already eyeing the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) in December with Ka Ying Rising, opted for the Sha Tin Vase over a 1,200m Class Two a week later.

"He's going to be on the minimum and he'll probably race out of the handicap if Tony Cruz runs [California Spangle]," the Australian handler said.

"We could be running 10 [points] out of the handicap but I think he's destined for big races. The owner's attitude is that if he wins a Group Three and goes up a significant number, it's like winning two Class Twos anyway.

"A win would set him up for next season and he might be something to dream with."

Second in the jockeys' premiership with 69 wins, Teetan will bid to continue his successful season with a solid book of nine rides at Sha Tin on Saturday.

The Mauritian rider again teams up with The Best Peach in the Class Two Hong Kong China Rugby Cup (1,600m), having guided the Cruz-trained gelding to a breakthrough win last month.

Since that Class Three success, The Best Peach has run 10th to Beauty Joy in the Group Two Chairman's Trophy (1,600m) and an unlucky sixth to C P Brave when held up in the straight in a 1,800m Class Two.

"He's been running well," Teetan said. "Last time he didn't have a really good, clear run in the straight. He got blocked up by a horse that was stopping in front of him.

"He drops down in distance, but I don't think that will be a problem. He's drawn a nice gate [three] to sit a bit closer than he has before. There could be a few horses with speed in that race, so he might like it."

General Winner, Romantic Charm, Fast Victory, Omakase, Circuit Ten, Young Horizon, Hoss and Amazing Victory are Teetan's other rides.

"General Winner ran a good race last time. He doesn't have a good draw, but I think he's going to be knocking on the door to win," Teetan said of the six-year-old, who has drawn barrier 10 in the Class Five Yau Ma Tei Handicap (1,400m).