David Hayes has confirmed his planned pathway to The Everest for Ka Ying Rising and said the trip to Australia will not include a start in Melbourne despite an easing of Racing Victoria’s strict veterinary protocols.
Ka Ying Rising will carry top weight of 135 pounds at the 2025-26 season opener at Sha Tin, likely to be on the second weekend of September, after completing a barrier trial at the pre-season carnival seven or eight days earlier.
“I would rather run with top weight than not run him at all, I don’t want to go for six months without a run,” Hayes said.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club has negotiated a slot for Ka Ying Rising in the G1 The Everest (1200m), the world’s richest turf race at A$20 million (US$12.91 million), run in Sydney on October 18.
Ka Ying Rising has won 12 races straight but has not competed since April 27, when he won the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m).
Hayes had lobbied for the Hong Kong Jockey Club to change the conditions of the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup on the first day of the season but the race will remain a Class 1 handicap and Ka Ying Rising’s lofty rating – he is now the equal-top rated horse in Hong Kong on 134 – means he will carry 135 pounds.
Not only that, but given there are no sprinters currently rated within 20 points of Ka Ying Rising, all of his rivals will carry the minimum 115 pounds.
“That means he would actually carry even more weight if it was a true handicap, he’d have more than 140 pounds given that many of his rivals are outside the handicap,” Hayes said. “It will be good for Hong Kong, he won the race last year with top weight and he is a better horse now.”
The trainer also revealed that his preparation for The Everest will include a barrier trial at Randwick 10 days out from the race with regular jockey Zac Purton flying in to ride.
Hayes was pleased with the changes to Racing Victoria’s vet protocols that would have made extending Ka Ying Rising’s Australian campaign easier but the trainer said his plans had already been finalised.
It was announced by RV yesterday that horses not contesting the Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup or Melbourne Cup can race in Melbourne without a second CT scan once they have arrived, changes officials hoped could lure Ka Ying Rising to Flemington for the A$3 million G1 Champions Sprint (1200m) on November 8.
“I applaud the decision, but this year, especially being the first trip away, one trip to Sydney is enough, rather than taking another long trip down to Melbourne when we are there,” Hayes said. “This is all keeping in mind the important goal of the Hong Kong Sprint in December. This plan gives him five to six weeks to prepare for that.”
Hayes said if Ka Ying Rising is successful in The Everest he will attempt to secure a A$1 million bonus on offer for winning the A$3 million Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) on November 1.
“If he wins he will go for the bonus and fly home immediately afterwards and that still gives us five weeks to prepare for the Hong Kong Sprint,” he said. ∎
