Ka Ying Rising’s 21-race winning streak ended on Saturday, 17 October 2026, when Tempted defeated the Hong Kong champion by half a neck in the AU$20 million G1 The Everest over 1,200 metres at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia. The Ka Ying Rising defeat followed a difficult run from barrier 11, with trainer David Hayes believing the wide passage had cost his horse the chance to secure another major victory.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by Chad Schofield, Tempted secured the biggest win of her career after enjoying a favourable run from barrier one. The result reversed last year’s outcome, when she finished second behind Ka Ying Rising in the world’s richest turf race. Joliestar finished third, a neck behind Ka Ying Rising, as the field completed the contest in 1 minute 8.21 seconds.
Ka Ying Rising Faces Challenge from Wide Draw
Carrying 129lb, Ka Ying Rising jumped from barrier 11 under Zac Purton and settled sixth before facing the challenge of making up ground in the straight. The gelding briefly appeared to struggle as the field turned for home, but he responded when Headwall moved alongside him and produced a determined finish.
Hayes believed the wide passage had proved costly, particularly as Tempted and Joliestar secured more economical trips around the turn. Despite his disappointment with the result, the trainer praised his horse’s effort and highlighted how narrowly he had missed victory.
Hayes said they had not expected Ka Ying Rising to settle in midfield, but the wide draw had affected the race. He added that the horse had finished so strongly that he had moved in front one stride after the winning post.
Hayes described the performance as brave and explained that Ka Ying Rising had raced six-wide without cover. He also acknowledged Tempted’s successful campaign and congratulated the winning connections.
The Soft 5 track conditions were not considered a major concern by the trainer, who instead pointed to the starting position and the contrasting trips taken by the leading contenders.
Zac Purton Praises Ka Ying Rising’s Determined Finish
Purton, who had partnered Ka Ying Rising in 20 of the gelding’s 22 victories from 25 starts, considered the performance a strong one despite the defeat.
The jockey explained that Ka Ying Rising had appeared to lose his rhythm entering the straight before finding his stride again when challenged from the outside. He praised the horse’s response and determination through the closing stages.
Purton also noted that the track conditions had presented a challenge for runners who raced prominently. Although Ka Ying Rising handled the surface adequately, the jockey suggested that the gelding preferred firmer ground.
The narrow defeat ended a winning sequence that had stretched back to January 2024, bringing a remarkable run of success to a close without diminishing the horse’s standing among Hong Kong’s leading sprinters.
Chad Schofield’s Tactical Change Delivers Everest Victory
Schofield adopted a different approach aboard Tempted, asking the mare to move forward early rather than settling her towards the rear, as had generally been her racing pattern.
The former Hong Kong-based jockey, who recorded 208 winners in the city before relocating to Sydney in 2021, said the strength of the opposition influenced his decision to take a more prominent position.
Schofield kept Tempted close to the pace, maintained her position through the race and moved into the lead well before the finish. The mare responded to the challenge and held off Ka Ying Rising’s late charge to secure the Group 1 victory.
The performance underlined the importance of positioning in a high-class sprint, particularly against a rival capable of producing a powerful finish. Tempted’s economical passage from barrier one contrasted with the ground Ka Ying Rising covered from his outside draw.
Ka Ying Rising Earnings Rise After The Everest
The AU$2.9 million runner-up prize lifted Ka Ying Rising’s career earnings to HK$176.7 million, moving him past Golden Sixty’s HK$167.17 million to second place among Hong Kong’s highest-earning horses. Romantic Warrior remained at the top of the list, having retired with record career earnings of HK$288,745,697.
Hayes confirmed that Ka Ying Rising would continue his campaign in Hong Kong, with the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and FWD Champions Day among his future targets. He also left open the possibility of another attempt at The Everest the following year.
Ka Ying Rising was scheduled to return to Hong Kong on Monday, 19 October, ahead of the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint over 1,200 metres at Sha Tin on 22 November. He would then target a third victory in the HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint on 13 December.
Ka Ying Rising’s 21-race winning streak ended with a half-neck defeat to Tempted in the G1 The Everest at Randwick. Despite a wide trip from barrier 11, the Hong Kong star mounted a determined late challenge, finished second and increased his career earnings to HK$176.7 million. His next major targets were scheduled in Hong Kong, beginning with the Jockey Club Sprint in November.
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