Ka Ying Rising took another important step towards defending his title in The Everest when the reigning champion completed a 1000m barrier trial at Royal Randwick on Tuesday morning. The six-year-old gelding finished second behind Ninja, but the relaxed manner of the workout suggested that trainer David Hayes was more interested in giving his star runner the right preparation than chasing the clock.
With The Everest scheduled for Saturday, October 17, Ka Ying Rising was allowed to find his rhythm on a rain-affected Soft 7 surface. The nine-time Group 1 winner went straight to the lead and remained in front as the field approached the home turn.
Under restraint, Ka Ying Rising travelled alongside Ninja before Tommy Berry allowed Ninja to edge ahead in the closing stages. Ninja stopped the clock at 59.46 seconds, with Ka Ying Rising finishing a neck away after recording a final 600m in 34.28 seconds.
Ka Ying Rising Shows Plenty of Improvement
The trial came after a quiet morning routine for Ka Ying Rising, who appeared relaxed in the parade ring before completing several laps in front of spectators alongside his work rider and mafoo. The gelding was slightly sweaty around the girth before entering the barriers, but showed no signs of distress during the workout.
Hayes was satisfied with the performance while making it clear that much more would be expected when the champion returns to race conditions.
“Better than last year, but I have seen him trial better,” Hayes said, pointing to the longer grass and soft conditions as factors that did not suit his stable star.
He noted that Ka Ying Rising did not change legs during the trial, something he regards as an indication that the horse was operating well within himself. According to Hayes, the gelding will be asked for considerably more when he lines up in The Everest.
The trainer also revealed that Ka Ying Rising is around 30 pounds heavier than he was at the same stage last year, describing the additional size as a positive development.
The trial was also considerably slower than race tempo, with Hayes estimating that it was around four seconds slower. Zac Purton, who partnered Ka Ying Rising in the workout, kept the horse under a firm hold through the straight.
That restraint was deliberate. The stable’s priority was to give the champion a meaningful hit-out without taking anything away from his preparation for the main event.
Purton felt the workout had achieved its purpose, saying Ka Ying Rising needed the run and had pulled up having a bigger blow than after his most recent race.
The jockey also made no secret of his preference for firmer ground. Ka Ying Rising has shown his best form when able to stride freely on a hard and fast surface, while softer conditions appeared to make his task more demanding at Randwick.
“He certainly needed the hit-out,” Purton said, adding that the trial would help the horse settle back into his Australian routine ahead of race day.
A Different Picture From Last Year
Ka Ying Rising finished third in the corresponding barrier trial last year on a Good 4 surface before going on to win The Everest. This year’s trial therefore represents another stage in a preparation that has already produced an imposing body of work.
Apocalyptic finished third in Tuesday’s trial under Zac Lloyd, while Joliestar and James McDonald were fourth. Headwall, Angel Capital and Amazing Journey completed the seven-runner field.
Ka Ying Rising enters The Everest as one of the leading names in global sprinting. His current rating of 135 places him at the top of the world’s best racehorse rankings, while his nine Group 1 victories underline the scale of his achievements.
Victory at Randwick would also take his career earnings close to HK$200 million. Only Romantic Warrior, with earnings of HK$288.74 million, has accumulated more among Hong Kong’s leading earners.
The champion has also rewritten the record books at Sha Tin, breaking six track records, including five over 1200m. His first 1200m record came in 2025 when he lowered the long-standing mark previously held by Sacred Kingdom.
The Everest was first run in 2017, when Redzel took the inaugural renewal. Redzel returned the following year to become the only two-time winner of the race so far.
The contest is restricted to 12 slots, with slot holders selecting horses to represent them. Ka Ying Rising, raced by the Ka Ying Syndicate and prominent owner Leung Shek Kong, will represent The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s slot and remains the only overseas-trained winner in the race’s history.
Weather could yet become an important factor. Forecasts for Sydney currently indicate the possibility of rain on the morning and afternoon of Saturday, October 17. Ka Ying Rising has previously shown that he can handle some give in the ground, having won on a good-to-yielding surface in the 2024 Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap over 1200m.
For now, however, Hayes and Purton will be hoping for clearer skies and a firmer surface when the world’s leading sprinters gather at Randwick.
Ka Ying Rising’s second-place finish in Tuesday’s trial was never intended to be the final test. The real examination awaits on October 17.
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