David Hayes and Zac Purton gave Ka Ying Rising the tick of approval after the superstar sprinter warmed up for the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m) with an easy trial win on Thursday.

Headlining a host of Hong Kong’s top Champions Day contenders in action at the Sha Tin dirt trials, Ka Ying Rising produced what Hayes labelled “a perfect trial” when cruising to victory by three and a half lengths over 1,200m.

Despite jumping a bit slowly, the three-time Group One winner worked forward to lead and wasn’t tested by Purton in a trial that also featured gun four-year-old My Wish, quality sprinter Helios Express and reigning Group One Champions Mile winner Beauty Eternal.

“He jumped, by his standards, a fraction slow and then he gathered incredibly quickly,” Hayes said.

“You would call it a perfect trial, his recovery is excellent and hopefully he’s going to finish the season undefeated.

“After nine times drawing wide, he’s due to draw an inside gate, isn’t he? I would much prefer closer to the rail – it makes it a bit easier than out wide.”

Purton said Ka Ying Rising was on track for his bid for a 12th consecutive victory on Sunday week.

“He’s trialled well, as he always does. He pulled up nicely, so we’re ready for next week,” the champion jockey said.

Zac Purton on Ka Ying Rising at Thursday’s trials.

Fresh from his narrow second to Cap Ferrat in the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m), My Wish tracked Ka Ying Rising and kept on well for second in Thursday’s trial.

The Mark Newnham-trained gelding, who also won the Classic Mile and ran second to Rubylot in the Classic Cup (1,800m), is set for his first Group One test in the Champions Mile.

“I’m really happy. It was a smooth trial,” Newnham said.

“He jumped well, settled nice, quickened well and ran through the line strongly – so, all the things we wanted to see. He looks like he’s held his form.”

My Wish (outside) and Swift Ascend in action in Thursday’s trial.

Helios Express ran fourth in the trial ahead of his latest clash with Ka Ying Rising. The John Size-trained gelding has finished second to the sprint sensation five times this season.

Beauty Eternal was last in the seven-runner trial after starting slowly.

Purton’s Champions Mile mount, Galaxy Patch, impressed in a separate trial wearing cheek pieces when second to Yuen Long Elite.

Purton indicated Galaxy Patch was in need of blinkers before his first race ride on the gelding last month, in which he ran an unlucky second to Straight Arron in the Group Two Chairman’s Trophy (1,600m).

“What I liked the most was compared to last time I trialled him, when the gap was there and he came through he was more determined in the cheek pieces,” Purton said after Galaxy Patch finished a length behind Yuen Long Elite.

“[The Champion Mile is] going to be a strong race – probably the strongest race we’ve had in a while, so he’s going to need to get everything right and be at his best.”

Trainer Pierre Ng Pang-chi confirmed the seven-time winner will wear cheek pieces in the Champions Mile, which is headlined by local star Voyage Bubble and nine-time Australian Group One winner Mr Brightside.

“We tried the cheek pieces on him today and he seemed to settle well, so we’ll stick with that gear for the race,” Ng said.

Galaxy Patch (outside) runs a close second to Straight Arron last start.

“We asked Zac for him to try and finish off better [and] he seemed nice enough. He was far back but he trialled well.”

Champions Mile runner Red Lion and Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) contender Ensued ran fourth and sixth respectively in the trial won by Yuen Long Elite.

At Conghua on Thursday, Straight Arron warmed up for the QE II Cup with a solid second in a 1,200m dirt trial, while his Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained stablemate Sunlight Power was close behind in third ahead of his tilt at the Champions Mile.