Hong Kong champion Ka Ying Rising has copped a nasty barrier draw for Saturday’s $20 million Everest at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Ka Ying Rising will attempt to defend his Everest crown from Gate 11, while main threats Tempted, Joliestar and Jimmysstar have drawn gates 1, 5 and 8 respectively.
The well-credentialled Ninja will start from barrier three, Headwall (Gate 6) also drew well, while the speedy Blue Door is coming out of 9.
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There are eight individual Group 1 winners in the field including two previous Everest winners, Ka Ying Rising (2025) and Giga Kick (2022) … but it was also bad news for the Clayton Douglas-trained Giga Kick who drew Gate 12.
Hall of Fame trainer David Hayes believes the gate will not be a major factor for Ka Ying Rising, but he is worried about the condition of the track.
“Five, six and seven I can tolerate, Heavy 8 I’d start to worry, Heavy 9 I’d shit myself,” Hayes told Channel 7 after the draw.
Fortunately for Hayes Randwick is currently rated a Good 4 and is in pristine condition, but rain is forecast on Friday and Saturday.
“The Hong Kong wet track is a bit different to the Australian wet track,’‘ Hayes said previously.
“The grass is a bit tighter in Hong Kong and he has a daisy cutting action. I know Zac (Purton, jockey) has a query on an Aussie ‘wet’, I don’t. I’m not worried.
“Also, I remember when I bought this horse I saw him a win a trial on heavy ground in Australia. It was only a trial but he looked pretty good, so I bought him.
Last year, Ka Ying Rising won the Everest from Gate 7, which indeed was considered the perfect barrier.
“He’s won from the inside, the middle, the outside. He gets the job done. He’s done it 21 times in a row,’‘ Hayes said before the draw.
“Obviously closer to the rail is better but I wouldn’t be in a panic if he drew wide, he’s so fast.”
While Hayes remains confident, he is wary of the “big three” in Tempted, Joliestar and Jimmysstar.
“Tempted is obvious, she’s outstanding and she’s brilliant at the track and in the conditions,’‘ Hayes said.
“Joliestar’s trial was excellent behind him (Ka Ying Rising) the other day and she has returned from racing very well at Royal Ascot.
“I also like Jimmysstar if it is a hard run race. The blinkers seem to have switched him back on.’‘
Hayes maintains Ka Ying Rising has returned to Sydney a superior sprinter ahead of his attempt to go back-to-back in the Everest.
“Ka Ying Rising is a freak of nature, he’s a generational horse,’‘ Hayes said.
“Five times in a row he’s broken the track record, I’ve never seen that before, and his ratings tell you he’s a better horse now than when he was here 12 months ago.
“I never thought I would see a sprinter as good as Black Caviar until this horse came along.
“So, he’s in rare air at the moment. You can have your opinion who’s better, that’s not the point, but he’s as good as her anyway I think.”
Ka Ying Rising completed his final fast workout for The Everest at Canterbury on Monday and Hayes said the world’s No.1 ranked racehorse has had a perfect preparation.
“The way I read Saturday is we probably need to have a bad day and they need to have a very good day to beat him,’‘ Hayes said previously.
Ka Ying Rising remains a dominant $1.40 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds for The Everest despite his wide draw but Tempted did firm slightly from $5 into $4.50 with Jimmysstar (barrier 8) next at $15.
TAB Fixed Odds spokesperson Tim Ryan said Ka Ying Rising is the “most wagered-on horse in Everest futures betting history’‘.
“We are holding nearly $2.5 million on him,’‘ Ryan said. “That’s $2 million in multis and $500,000 straight out.
“He bottomed out at $1.30 but I’m comfortable having him at $1.40 with Tempted the firmer.
“What odds Ka Ying Rising starts out will depend on the track conditions on Saturday.’‘
Ka Ying Rising is attempting to join Redzel (2017-18) as the only dual winner of The Everest.
Horse and Number, Trainer, Jockey, Slot Holder, Barrier, Weight
1 – KA YING RISING – David Hayes – Zac Purton – Hong Kong Jockey Club – Gate 11 – 58.5kg
2 – JIMMYSSTAR – Ciaron Maher – Nash Rawiller – TAB – Gate 8 – 58.5kg
3 – GIGA KICK – Clayton Douglas – Dylan Gibbons – Coolmore – Gate 12 – 58.5kg
4 – ANGEL CAPITAL – Chris Waller – Ben Melham – Yulong – Gate 2 – 58.5kg
5 – CABALLUS – Bjorn Baker – Tim Clark – James Harron Bloodstock – Gate 10 – 58.5kg
6 – HEADWALL – Matthew Smith – Kerrin McEvoy – Max Whitby Syndicate – Gate 6 – 58.5kg
7 – NINJA – Michael Freedman – Tommy Berry – Fairway Thoroughbreds – Gate 3 – 58.5kg
8 – JOLIESTAR – Chris Waller – James McDonald – Chris Waller Racing – Gate 5 – 56.5kg
9 – TEMPTED – Ciaron Maher – Chad Schofield – Godolphin – Gate 1 – 56.5kg
10 – SPICY MARTINI – Toby Edmonds – Taylor Marshall – Inglis – Gate 4 – 56.5kg
11 – SAVVY HALLIE – Brad Widdup – Zac Lloyd – Mulberry Racing – Gate 7 – 56.5kg
12 – BLUE DOOR – Bjorn Baker – Jamie Melham – Newgate/GPI Racing – Gate 9 – 51kg
The Emergencies
13 – OVERPASS – 58.5kg
14 – CHARM STONE – 56.5kg
15 – MARHOONA – 56.5kg
16 – SKYBIRD – 56.5kg
– With RASNewswire
