David Hayes will gradually increase Ka Ying Rising’s workload over the next week as the world’s highest-rated horse continues a so-far seamless preparation for the AU$20 million (approx. HK$110 million) G1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick Racecourse on 17 October.

Chasing consecutive victories in the world’s richest turf race, Ka Ying Rising has settled in smoothly at Canterbury Park Racecourse’s quarantine facility in Sydney and has regained the estimated five kilograms he lost in weight during his flight from Hong Kong on Sunday (20 September).

David Hayes will travel to Australia next week to supervise the final stages of Ka Ying Rising’s preparations for 2026 The Everest.

David Hayes will travel to Australia next week to supervise the final stages of Ka Ying Rising’s preparations for 2026 The Everest.

“I’m very happy with him. He’s put back on the small amount of weight that he lost from the flight,” Hayes said. “Everything has gone according to plan.

“He’ll have some fast work on Saturday, and we’ll continue to give him longer work to maintain his fitness.

“Everything has gone perfectly. He’s a more settled horse this time and we’re looking forward to going back to Randwick for the trial on the sixth of October.”

Ka Ying Rising last year became the first overseas-trained horse to win The Everest, and Hayes believes the gelding is now “10 percent better” than a year ago as he attempts to post a 22nd consecutive win.

“We’ve got no doubt he’s improved. In his last four starts, he’s broken four track records. I think conservatively he’s 10 percent better. It’s always hard to judge, but 10 percent or more,” Hayes said.

“I’ve watched his (2025) Everest win, which I thought was his least impressive for the last 12 months. So, this year, I’ve been watching the Australian sprinters very closely and there are some good ones, as there always are in Australia, but they’re probably going to have to improve a lot and he’s got to lose some form, the way I’m looking at it and I don’t think he has (lost form).”

Ka Ying Rising breaks the Sha Tin 1200m course record on 6 September.

Ka Ying Rising breaks the Sha Tin 1200m course record on 6 September.

Ka Ying Rising broke the Sha Tin 1200m course record for the fifth time on 6 September, when he clocked 1m 06.11s to win the G3 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap.

The six-year-old is scheduled to trial at Randwick Racecourse on 6 October, when he will be ridden by nine-time Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton.

“Going into his trial, we’re going to lengthen his slow work, which we’ve been doing all season,” Hayes said. “In the race the other day (HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap), I asked Zac to let him quicken from the 400 and have a good hit-out, instead of easing him up.

“The year before, it was probably as easy a win as you would ever see (in the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap), but it didn’t really help his fitness much. This year, he had a good hit-out, broke the course record, and that was a change we made.

“He’s a bigger, stronger and more mature horse. He’s a heavier horse, and that’s a big positive as far as I’m concerned. He raced heavier first-up (1,172lb) than he ever has, and he raced better than he ever has.

“It (contesting The Everest) is not uncharted water for us this year. You can never be confident when you’re travelling internationally, but we’re confident in the process we are going to do.

“Going into the trial last year, I probably had him a bit underdone. This year, he will be fitter.”

Ka Ying Rising will race in The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s The Everest slot on 17 October.