Hong Kong sprint star Ka Ying Rising is gathering momentum in Sydney as trainer David Hayes prepares him for another attempt at The Everest, with the champion set for another gallop on Friday before a barrier trial next Tuesday.
Hayes says the five year old has arrived in Australia in excellent condition and appears to have developed since winning the world’s richest turf race last year. The horse is following a programme similar to his 2025 preparation, but his trainer has deliberately brought him further forward in fitness this time.
The goal is clear. Ka Ying Rising will return to Randwick on October 17 seeking another Everest victory and a 22nd consecutive win.
Hayes pleased with Sydney preparation
Ka Ying Rising is continuing his preparation from his quarantine base at Canterbury, where he has remained under close supervision since arriving in Sydney.
His next serious piece of work will come on Friday morning, when he is scheduled to gallop before easing into Tuesday’s barrier trial.
Hayes said the horse’s latest gallop on Tuesday provided plenty of encouragement. Ka Ying Rising finished strongly, running his final 400 metres in less than 24 seconds, and the trainer expects a similar effort when he works again on Friday.
“Really good,” Hayes said. “He did a nice gallop on Tuesday, and he has another gallop in the morning, and then he’ll just cruise into the trial.”
The trainer added that the strong finishing section was typical of the horse.
“He ran home on Tuesday in sub 24, and he’ll do it again on Friday. And that’s just typical Ka Ying gallops.”
The numbers matter because Ka Ying Rising is being prepared for one of the most demanding sprint races on the Australian calendar. The Everest brings together some of the fastest horses in the world over 1,200 metres, leaving little room for a slow start to a campaign.
Trainer says champion is stronger than last year
While Hayes has largely followed the same preparation pattern as last year, one important detail has changed.
Ka Ying Rising’s 2025 lead up trial at Randwick did not leave jockey Zac Purton convinced that the horse was ready for his best effort. Hayes has therefore aimed to have the sprinter further advanced this time before his final trial.
Tuesday’s hit out is expected to provide the final significant piece of work before the Everest.
“Keeping in mind that he has a hard trial on Tuesday, that should just top him off,” Hayes said.
The trainer also believes the horse has improved since last year.
“But I think he’s a better horse than he was this time last year. And the rating says that anyway, doesn’t it? About 10 pounds up from last year.”
That rating assessment provides one of the clearest indications of Hayes’ confidence. Rather than simply relying on the horse’s previous Everest performance, the trainer believes his current level suggests further improvement.
Ka Ying Rising has already established a remarkable record in Hong Kong and Australia. His victory in last year’s Everest added an international achievement to a winning run that has continued ever since.
Ka Ying Rising approaches another milestone
If he wins at Randwick on October 17, Ka Ying Rising will extend his winning streak to 22 races.
By the time the Everest arrives, he will also have gone 1,000 days without suffering a defeat.
That run places considerable attention on every stage of his preparation. A horse carrying such a long unbeaten record enters each race with expectations that can be difficult to manage, particularly when competing against elite sprinters on unfamiliar ground.
Hayes, however, has shown little concern about the horse’s transition to Sydney.
“He hasn’t missed a beat,” he said.
The trainer said the team overseeing Ka Ying Rising in Canterbury had remained pleased with his condition throughout his stay.
“He’s been under constant supervision there, and everyone that’s watching him just is thrilled with him.”
For Hayes, the horse’s behaviour and recovery between pieces of work are as important as the times recorded on the track. The trainer has indicated that Ka Ying Rising is coping well with the demands of the Australian preparation and remains on schedule for the major race.
Randwick trial will provide final test
Tuesday’s barrier trial at Randwick will be closely watched because it should give Hayes and Purton their clearest indication yet of where Ka Ying Rising stands before race day.
The trial also gives the horse another opportunity to familiarise himself with Randwick, the same course where he will attempt to defend his Everest crown.
Last year’s trial raised questions about his readiness, but Hayes has adjusted the preparation this time to ensure the horse reaches the final stage with more fitness under his belt.
The Friday gallop will come first. After that, the focus will shift to Tuesday.
Hayes does not expect the horse to need much more work after the trial. Instead, the aim is to have Ka Ying Rising ready to maintain his condition without taking unnecessary risks before October 17.
That balance is particularly important for a horse whose racing record has already placed him among the most accomplished sprinters in the region.
A second Everest would add to an extraordinary record
Ka Ying Rising’s potential return to the Everest is also significant for Hong Kong racing.
His victory in 2025 showed that the city’s leading sprinter could travel to Australia and defeat a field assembled from some of the strongest short distance horses in the world.
A successful title defence would take that achievement another step further.
The Everest is a race built around speed, positioning and timing. Its 1,200 metre distance gives jockeys little opportunity to recover from mistakes, while the quality of the field means even a small loss of momentum can have a major effect on the final result.
For Purton and Hayes, the preparation therefore centres on getting Ka Ying Rising to the start in the right condition rather than simply adding more work.
So far, Hayes believes that process is going exactly as planned.
The horse has completed his latest gallop, another is scheduled for Friday, and Tuesday’s Randwick trial will serve as the next major checkpoint.
After that, Ka Ying Rising will have one objective: return to Randwick on October 17 and attempt to become a back to back winner of The Everest.
Can Ka Ying Rising extend his unbeaten run to 22 races and defend his Everest crown in Sydney?