2026 The Everest: Power Rankings
Idol Horse’s experts rank the field chasing Ka Ying Rising in the world’s richest turf race at Royal Randwick.
2026 The Everest: Power Rankings
Idol Horse’s experts rank the field chasing Ka Ying Rising in the world’s richest turf race at Royal Randwick.
26 August, 2026Ka Ying Rising is a clear favourite to win a second consecutive Everest, that much is clear. Who challenges him is now generating a fascinating discussion ahead of the world’s richest turf race at Royal Randwick on October 17.
With just over seven weeks before the big day, our team of experts have come up with the first list as key formlines start to firm up. This weekend’s San Domenico Stakes looms as a defining test for Guest House and Coolmore’s slot, while Saturday’s Memsie Stakes could shuffle the order among Jimmysstar, Angel Capital and Beiwacht.
Here’s how our panel rates the 12 horses lining up to chase down the champ.
1. Ka Ying Rising
Age/Sex: 6YO Gelding
Trainer: David Hayes
Race Record: 23:21-2-0
Biggest Win: G1 The Everest (2025)
This one doesn’t need a case. In fact we nearly made this list the “horses who could finish second to Ka Ying Rising Power Rankings.” There is the uncertainty of travel and as Australian racing produces some new rivals, the scrutiny will remain. Ka Ying Rising’s Everest win is considered his least impressive performance of the last two years by many judges. If that is the case, was it an off day or does the horse not like Randwick’s more lush surface? If it was an off day, it leaves little hope for the 11 rivals lining up against him on October 17.
2. Tempted
Age/Sex: 4YO Mare
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Race Record: 12:7-2-2
Biggest Win: G1 Surround Stakes (2026)
Godolphin’s top priority off a runner-up finish last year as a three-year-old. Returned in the autumn and went three-for-three – albeit against her own age group, the last time against the boys in the Arrowfield Sprint. Only gets a 2kg weight pull this time and there will be a big focus on her when she returns in the coming weeks.
3. Joliestar
Age/Sex: 6YO Mare
Trainer: Chris Waller
Race Record: 22:10-4-4
Biggest Win: G1 TJ Smith Stakes (2026)
Joliestar has been unplaced just four times in a stellar career, but two of those runs have been in The Everest. The Idol Horse experts haven’t lost faith in Chris Waller’s mare, who will be returning from a close third at Royal Ascot.
4. Guest House
Age/Sex: 3YO Colt
Trainer: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr
Race Record: 4:2-1-1
Biggest Win: G1 Golden Slipper (2026)
Coolmore’s number one option for their slot but a big day looms this weekend in the San Domenico Stakes. Needs a dominant performance there to give connections the confidence to put a valuable stallion prospect on a collision course with one of the greatest sprinters of all time. Three-year-olds get a healthy weight pull against the older horses in The Everest. Yes Yes Yes (2019) and Giga Kick (2022) both won the race as three-year-olds.
5. Ninja
Age/Sex: 4YO Gelding
Trainer: Michael Freedman
Race Record: 9:5-1-2
Biggest Win: G2 Hobartville Stakes (2026)
Ninja burst up the rankings with a Missile Stakes win that gives him something many on this list cannot claim: strong recent form. On a Guineas campaign last time in, but that explosive performance showed he has found a valuable new niche.
6. Jimmysstar
Age/Sex: 7YO Gelding
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Race Record: 28:11-5-4
Biggest Win: Russell Balding Stakes (2025)
The Idol Horse experts were split on Jimmysstar: a seven-year-old that hasn’t won since the CF Orr Stakes in November last year. That was part of a purple patch of form though – a closing third in The Everest that was followed by a win in the Russell Balding Stakes and the Orr victory. Entered for Saturday’s Memsie Stakes over 1400m – does that indicate Maher feels the 1200m contests are too sharp for the backmarker?
7. Autumn Glow
Age/Sex: 5YO Mare
Trainer: Chris Waller
Race Record: 13:12-0-1
Biggest Win: Golden Eagle (2025)
The most contested horse on the board. Supporters love that she has never been beaten by Ka Ying Rising, boasts obvious X-factor – but are we all just hoping rather than actually thinking she will attempt to slay the Ka Ying Rising dragon? The realists on the panel point out trainer Chris Waller’s flat “no” when pressed on whether or not Autumn Glow could contest the race. The biggest factor steering Autumn Glow away from a potential clash is the amount of money on offer for the King Charles III Stakes on the same day as The Everest, a race the mare is already deep odds-on for in pre-post markets.
8. Angel Capital
Age/Sex: 5YO Horse
Trainer: Chris Waller
Race Record: 16:5-2-2
Biggest Win: G2 Autumn Stakes (2025)
Yulong’s likely slot-holder. Experts feel that the ceiling might not be high enough to compete with Ka Ying Rising but the floor is high – unlikely to run a bad race. Entered in Saturday’s Memsie Stakes.
9. Beiwacht
Age/Sex: 4YO Horse
Trainer: Chris Waller
Race Record: 13:3-3-1
Biggest Win: G1 All Aged Stakes (2026)
Slot-holder Godolphin’s number two seed but that’s no slight on his ability. Building a stallion resume. Another to watch for in the Memsie.
10. Lady Shenandoah
Age/Sex: 5YO Mare
Trainer: Chris Waller
Race Record: 16:5-4-3
Biggest Win: G1 Coolmore Classic (2025)
A solid fourth in the G1 Winx Stakes last weekend, Lady Shenandoah may lack the sharpness required to be regularly competitive in Group 1 sprints but our experts have identified her as a ‘knockout hope’, especially if a high-pressure race falls apart.
11. Almeraq
Age/Sex: 4YO Horse
Trainer: William Haggas
Race Record: 8:4-2-0
Biggest Win: G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (2026)
William Haggas loves taking the inflated Sydney prize money and obviously has the understanding of how best to prepare out of Canterbury. He is also a realist though. He posted a big win against Satono Reve and Joliestar at Royal Ascot but then was disappointing at Newmarket in the July Cup.
12. Giga Kick
Age/Sex: 7YO Gelding
Trainer: Clayton Douglas
Race Record: 23:9-3-3
Biggest Win: The Everest (2022)
Winless in the autumn and will need this old adage to hold true – form is temporary, class is permanent. ∎
