Barrier 11 no concern for Ka Ying Rising but wet weather worries David Hayes ahead of The Everest

A wide draw in barrier 11 failed to dampen David Hayes’ enthusiasm with Ka Ying Rising, but the prospect of a wet track in Saturday’s Group One The Everest (1,200m) at Randwick is more of a concern for the champion trainer.

Ka Ying Rising was dealt the second widest gate at Tuesday night’s barrier draw at Luna Park on the Sydney Harbour, but Hayes was looking at the positives as his superstar sprinter bids to become the first horse to win the prized race from barrier 11.

“I know Zac [Purton] will be happy because he goes in second last, with the Australian way they load [into the barriers],” Hayes said.

“In Hong Kong, he normally goes in last and he’s a bit fidgety in the gates, and that’s the little thing that can go wrong.

“He’s so fast, he can cruise across. If the tempo’s too fast for him, he’ll sit second or third and if it’s not fast, he’ll lead.

“I’d be more worried about getting boxed in from one, two or three. If he had a slow jump, I think he’ll be out of trouble and the Randwick 1,200’s wonderful – you’ve got a nice, long run to get across, so not chaotic like Sha Tin.

“Sha Tin, you’ve only got 200m and he still makes it easy to get across, doesn’t he?”

Heavy rain lashed Sydney on Tuesday night and while the forecast for the rest of the week is clear, Hayes admitted a rain-affected Randwick track would challenge Ka Ying Rising, who will bid for back-to-back The Everest victories.

“I’d be more worried about a heavy 10 than barrier 11,” Hayes said.

“Luckily it’s Tuesday. If it was Friday, I’d be a bit worried. The forecast says it won’t be, but it was always going to be a lot of rain today.

“I’ve seen him on wet ground. One day he won on a genuine yielding track, but his time was of a fast track and the other races were yielding to slow.

“Heavy would worry me – I’d be really worried going to the races if it was heavy. If it’s dead, I’m sure he’ll handle dead and I’m pretty comfortable he’ll handle slow and I really don’t know on heavy. Aussie heavy is different to Hong Kong heavy.”

Ka Ying Rising, who chases a Hong Kong record-extending 22nd consecutive victory on Saturday, is a raging $1.4 favourite in overseas fixed odds markets.

Second favourite Tempted, who firmed to $5 following Tuesday’s heavy rain, drew barrier one.

The brilliant last-start winner of the Group Two Premiere Stakes (1,200m) at Randwick also jumped from the inside gate when running second to Ka Ying Rising last year. She is unbeaten from five starts since her last clash with the Hong Kong champion.

Sydney trainer Joe Pride, who won The Everest with Think About It in 2023 but doesn’t have a runner this year, hailed Ka Ying Rising “the best sprinter I’ve seen”.

“I would think unless the wet track beats him, he won’t be beaten,” Pride said.

“The horse is amazing. I’ve been in the last five or six Everests and with all due respect to the horses I’ve run in those races, them taking him on, I wouldn’t be interested. He’s a superstar and he’s just the best sprinter I’ve ever seen.”