David Hayes calls the legendary Silent Witness “the first great sprinter” and “the best he ever saw”, and delights in having a horse that has equalled his incredible feat of 17 straight victories.

The Australian Racing Hall of Fame trainer said it would be a “great thrill” to surpass the Hong Kong hero as his charge, Ka Ying Rising, enters final preparations in the bid to claim a Hong Kong record 18th consecutive win in the HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) on Sunday, 22 February.

Between December 2002 and April 2005, the Archie da Silva-owned Silent Witness swept all before him during an extraordinary winning streak, which included two Hong Kong Sprint titles (2003 & 2004), two Centenary Sprint Cups (2004 & 2005), two Chairman’s Sprint Prize triumphs (2004 & 2005) and a Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (2005). He also captured Japan’s 2005 G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) in his final career win.

Silent Witness’s success took on greater meaning to an adulating Hong Kong public, given the city’s wider struggles during that period.

“Hong Kong was going through very tough times back then — the SARS epidemic, economic difficulties,” said Silent Witness’s trainer Tony Cruz. “He became a symbol of hope. He showed people that great challenges could be overcome. That’s why he was affectionately known as the ‘Spirit of Hong Kong’.”

During the intervening years, several challengers have threatened to reach that “magic” number of 17 victories, but none has managed to sustain a run, until now.

“I would say it’s a real magic number,” Hayes said. “To equal it was magic, and to beat it is even better, especially at a distance (1400m) where he’s stretching out to show the diversity that he has.

“The expectation is for him to win; you just want him to and not let everyone down. But he hasn’t, and the way he trialled recently, I don’t think he’s going to,” Hayes added.

Comparisons between Silent Witness and Ka Ying Rising have only grown as Hayes’ five-year-old has coasted toward equalling the record. But for connections of the former, nothing can compare to the “Spirit of Hong Kong”.

“There’s no doubt about Ka Ying Rising’s natural talent. That’s clear for everyone to see,” Cruz said. “There’s no horse in Hong Kong that can compete with him right now. He’s simply outstanding.

“Silent Witness’s temperament and character were like no other horse I’d trained. He was confident, relaxed, a true professional and an absolute pleasure to train.

“Even going to the start, we had to manage him carefully. If another horse tried to pass him, he’d want to take them on. He refused to let anyone go past him,” Cruz added.

Felix Coetzee was in the saddle for all 29 of Silent Witness’s career starts. Despite a decorated career during which he was crowned South Africa’s champion jockey three times and claimed multiple Group 1 victories, nothing compared to his association with Silent Witness.

“Silent Witness was something unique, something special. It’s wonderful when horses like this come along,” Coetzee said. “He had such a huge presence and gave us incredible memories. I learned a lot from him. Anyone could have won on him — I was just lucky to be there at the right time.”

Now aged 26 and enjoying his retirement at the Living Legends facility in Victoria, Australia, Silent Witness is still widely regarded as the greatest racehorse Hong Kong has ever showcased. Though it’s a perception that could alter if another bumper crowd at Sha Tin gets to witness Ka Ying Rising, who was recently named the world’s best sprinter, make Hong Kong racing history on Sunday week.

Hayes is thankful that the best horse he’s handled in his career came at “the back-end” of his career.

“It’s nice to be the trainer of the most consecutive winning horse in Hong Kong,” the 63-year-old said. “I keep pinching myself, and I’m at an age where I really, really appreciate having a horse with this ability.

“I’ve trained two of the highest-rated horses in the world in my life. One was at the start of my career, called Better Loosen Up, and then I have this horse. I’ve had 107 Group 1 winners in between. But nothing like this horse.”

An 18th consecutive victory would resonate well beyond the Hayes stable.