Ka Ying Rising has completed final preparations before travelling to Australia for a second tilt at the AU$20 million (approx. HK$111 million) G1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick Racecourse on 17 October after a faultless track gallop at Sha Tin on Friday morning (18 September).

Exercising pre-dawn on the turf course, the world’s highest-rated horse galloped over 1200m under the watchful eye of David Hayes, clocking 1m 21.70s and rounding off the work with a final 400m sectional of 22.6s.

Triumphant in his past 21 starts, including setting a Sha Tin track record of 1m 06.11s in the G3 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) on 6 September, Ka Ying Rising delighted Hayes ahead of the champion’s departure on Sunday night (20 September) for Sydney, where he will attempt to win the world’s richest turf race for the second time.

“He galloped and he ran on well down the straight and he did it nicely, he did it all well – and his recovery was very good,” Hayes said. “He’s eating the food. He’s ready to go after his last piece of work.”

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

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

Ka Ying Rising will spend two weeks in quarantine at Canterbury Racecourse before trialling at Randwick Racecourse on Tuesday, 6 October. Retired stablemate Ka Ying Glory will travel to Australia with Ka Ying Rising as a companion.

Hayes hopes the preparation, which is a carbon copy of last season’s victorious raid, will again deliver the major spoils.

“He’s really in great shape. Probably ahead of last year, I would say,” Hayes said. “He doesn’t need another horse to work with in quarantine in Australia. Ka Ying Glory will go for company and they can eat together.”

Ka Ying Rising, the only foreign-trained horse to win The Everest, again runs in The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s The Everest slot.

Ridden by Zac Purton, Ka Ying Rising defeated Tempted and Jimmysstar in last year’s The Everest.

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday (23 September).

By: Leo Schlink