Ka Ying Rising will pursue another landmark achievement when he contests the AU$20 million Group 1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Saturday, 17 October 2026, after drawing barrier 11 for the prestigious sprint. Trainer David Hayes will remain confident in the Hong Kong champion’s ability to overcome the challenging draw as he prepares to defend his title and extend his extraordinary winning streak to 22 consecutive victories.
The world’s highest-rated horse will return to Australia following his success in the 2025 edition, when he won The Everest from barrier seven under jockey Zac Purton. This time, Ka Ying Rising will face 11 rivals in a contest that will test his speed, tactical versatility and ability to negotiate a different starting position.
The barrier draw will present a notable historical challenge. Across the nine previous runnings of The Everest, no horse will have won from the second-widest gate. Bella Nipotina will provide an important point of reference after winning from barrier 12 in 2024, when a late scratching reduced the field to 11 runners. Hayes, however, will believe his stable star’s exceptional speed and the Randwick course layout will offer sufficient opportunities to overcome the draw.
Ka Ying Rising Barrier 11 Challenge Will Not Shake Hayes’ Confidence
Hayes will place greater emphasis on the starting procedure and the early stages of the race than on the barrier number itself. Under the Australian system, horses will be loaded into the starting stalls in two divisions, moving outwards from designated gates. Ka Ying Rising will consequently enter the barriers among the final runners, with only one horse expected to load after him.
The trainer will welcome that arrangement because Ka Ying Rising will ordinarily enter the stalls last in Hong Kong, where he can become restless while waiting for the start. The Australian procedure will offer a small but potentially important advantage by reducing the time he will spend waiting inside the barriers.
Ka Ying Rising’s natural speed will also provide Purton with tactical flexibility. If the early pace proves moderate, the champion will have the ability to take the lead, while a stronger tempo will allow him to settle in second or third position without compromising his chances.
Hayes will consider the inside barriers potentially more difficult because a slow start from gates one, two or three could leave a horse vulnerable to traffic and restricted running room. Barrier 11, by contrast, will give Ka Ying Rising an opportunity to establish his position during the long run available after the start at Randwick.
The trainer will contrast that layout with Sha Tin, where the shorter run after the start will leave less time for horses to cross the field. Ka Ying Rising’s ability to accelerate and secure a favourable position will therefore remain a central part of the plan for his title defence.
Former Rivals Set to Renew Their Everest Challenge
The Everest field will include several leading sprinters who finished behind Ka Ying Rising in the previous edition. Tempted, who finished second in 2025, will start from barrier one, while Jimmysstar, the third-place finisher, will break from gate eight.
Joliestar, who finished fifth last year, will also return to the contest, alongside Angel Capital, who will start from barrier two after finishing sixth in the previous running. Their presence will provide the defending champion with a demanding examination against established Australian sprinting talent.
Ninja will add another intriguing dimension to the contest after narrowly defeating Ka Ying Rising in a recent 1000-metre barrier trial at Randwick. The rival will start from barrier three and will have an opportunity to secure a prominent position early in the race.
The combination of proven performers and emerging challengers will make the 1200-metre contest a substantial test of speed and race management. Ka Ying Rising’s previous Everest victory will provide valuable experience, but Purton will still need to assess the early pace and determine when to commit his mount to a forward position.
With a record-extending winning streak within reach, the champion will enter the race carrying considerable expectations. His established ability to adapt to different racing circumstances will be a major asset, although the quality of the opposition will leave little room for error.
Heavy Rain Emerges as Hayes’ Greater Concern
While the barrier draw will attract considerable attention, Hayes will identify the possibility of heavy ground as a greater concern ahead of Saturday’s meeting. Randwick will have received more than 24 millimetres of rain on Tuesday, 13 October, raising questions about the surface that will greet the runners on race day.
Hayes will remain comfortable with the prospect of dead or slow conditions, drawing confidence from Ka Ying Rising’s previous performances on softer ground. The trainer will recall a victory on a genuinely yielding surface in which the horse recorded a time comparable with a fast-track performance. Other efforts on yielding-to-slow ground will also provide encouragement.
A heavy track, however, will present a different challenge. Hayes will remain uncertain about how effectively his champion will handle the conditions, particularly because Australian heavy ground can differ considerably from the equivalent surface encountered in Hong Kong.
The timing of the rainfall will provide some scope for the track to improve before the weekend, although further weather developments will remain important. Hayes will hope conditions will stay within a range that will allow Ka Ying Rising to use his trademark acceleration effectively.
The champion’s prospects will therefore depend on more than his starting position. A clean break, a suitable early tempo and a manageable track surface will all contribute to his attempt to secure another Everest victory.
Ka Ying Rising will target a record-extending 22nd consecutive victory in The Everest at Randwick on 17 October after drawing barrier 11. David Hayes will remain confident that the champion’s speed and the course layout will help him overcome the draw, while heavy rain and the possibility of testing track conditions will remain the principal concerns ahead of his title defence.
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