The world’s highest-rated racehorse, Ka Ying Rising, looked fully prepared for his title defence in the AU$20 million (approx. HK$108.9 million) G1 The Everest (1200m) after completing a smooth 1000m barrier trial at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, this morning (Tuesday, 6 October).
The Everest, scheduled for Saturday, 17 October, is the world’s richest turf race. Last year, Ka Ying Rising captured the premier sprint under the guidance of Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductees trainer David Hayes and jockey Zac Purton. That victory stands as one of his 21 consecutive career wins.
Currently topping the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings with a rating of 135, the nine-time Group 1 winner jumped alertly in this morning’s heat to settle in a prominent position upon entering the bend. Ridden quietly by Purton, Ka Ying Rising moved up alongside the Tommy Berry-ridden Ninjutsu. Ninjutsu held a slight advantage in the closing stages, hitting the line a neck ahead of Ka Ying Rising in a time of 59.46s, clocking 34.28s for the final 600m.
Under cloudy Sydney skies, Ka Ying Rising appeared relaxed in the paddock prior to the trial. Accompanied by his work rider and mafoo, the six-year-old paraded for several laps, giving local racing fans a glimpse of the champion before heading to the turf track. With the surface rated as Soft due to recent rain, the gelding showed slight sweating near the girth before loading into the gates.
David Hayes, a two-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer (1997/1998 and 1998/1999 seasons), assessed the performance: “He trialled better than he did last year, though I have seen him trial better. The track conditions today, with the longer grass and the soft surface, didn’t really play to his strengths.”
“He didn’t change legs, which usually means he is doing it quite easily. When Zac asks him for an effort, he will change legs and let down strongly. Today’s performance was a passing grade, but not brilliant.”
“However, it is only a trial, and we are not going to push him to his peak just yet. He will be much sharper on race day. You only have to look at his trial compared to his race performance last year to understand that. He has actually improved slightly on his trial from last year, and hopefully, he will improve again on race day.”
Hayes added: “The pace of this trial was about four seconds slower than race speed. Zac let him cruise into the straight, but under race conditions, he will be fully tested. He is also carrying 30 pounds more than he was at this time last year. I believe the stronger he is, the better.”
In his preparation for last year’s Everest, Ka Ying Rising also contested a 1000m trial in Australia, finishing third behind Almighty Defender on a Good track with some give. Seven horses participated in this morning’s heat. Great Revelation, ridden by L. Leung-tung, finished third, while Morning Star under James McDonald took fourth. They were followed by Steep Cirque, Angel Capital, and Magic Journey.
Zac Purton commented: “He definitely needed that trial. He was blowing harder than usual pulling up, which I believe is due to the softer track and the time between runs. This trial helps him regain his rhythm and acclimatise to the environment here. We saw how much the trial brought him on last year, and I expect it will do the same this time around.”
“I would much prefer him on a firm, dry track; he loves top-of-the-ground. As we saw in his trials both last year and today, he finds it harder work on a soft surface. Hopefully, the weather clears up and stays dry.”
Purton continued: “The competition will be fierce. Some people continuously underestimate the quality of this race, but history tells us it is the most competitive sprint on the calendar.”
Should Ka Ying Rising successfully defend his crown, the AU$7 million (approx. HK$38.36 million) first-place prize money will boost his career earnings to nearly HK$200 million, ranking him second only to Romantic Warrior (HK$288.74 million) among Hong Kong-trained horses.
The outstanding sprinter has rewritten the Sha Tin track record on six occasions, including five times over the 1200m turf course. He first made history in 2025 by shattering Sacred Kingdom’s 17-year-old course record.
The inaugural Everest was run in 2017 and won by Redzel, who successfully defended his title in 2018 to remain the only dual winner of the race. The event features 12 slot holders who negotiate with owners to secure a runner. Owned by the Ka Ying Syndicate, which includes prominent owner Leung Shek-kong, Ka Ying Rising is the only overseas raider to have won the race and will compete representing the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s slot.
Early weather forecasts for Sydney suggest the possibility of showers on the morning and afternoon of Saturday, 17 October. However, Ka Ying Rising has proven his versatility, notably carrying 135lb to victory on Good to Yielding ground in the 2024 Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (1200m handicap), a race that has since been upgraded to Group 3 status.
Sources: HKJC