David Hayes would be more than happy to see a rain-affected Randwick track for superstar Ka Ying Rising’s important trial to “dispel that rumour that he doesn’t go on the wet”.
The world’s highest-rated galloper headlines a seven-horse field for Tuesday’s 1,000m trial, which will serve as a key hit-out in preparation for the champion’s defence of his Group One The Everest (1,200m) crown on October 17.
Heavy rain lashed Sydney on Saturday and while conditions are expected to clear in the lead-up to Tuesday, the Randwick track could remain rain-affected.
While jockey Zac Purton has pointed to a heavy Randwick track being a potential obstacle on The Everest day, Hayes has no fears about his nine-time Group One winner handling a wet track.
“I actually want to see and dispel that rumour that he doesn’t go on the wet,” Hayes said.
“When he trialled in Australia [before being sold], it was on one of those provincial tracks and the only negative with the trial was the wet ground, and we bought him off of that.
“I’ve seen him here a couple of days when they’ve had 50mm of rain and with surface water, and he still ran 1:09 or 1:08, so the track was still given as good but gee, it was wet a couple of those days he won.
“I always mentally took a note of that knowing that he’ll handle the wet – I’m sure he will.”
Hayes expects Ka Ying Rising to handle the trial outing far better than last year, when his pre-trial antics gave the trainer and Purton cause for concern.
The brilliant winner of a Hong Kong record 21 straight races ran third in the trial, sparking further concern from Purton and social media rumours that he was in doubt to take his place in The Everest, which were false.
“He’ll have a nice trial. He hasn’t seen another horse for five weeks, so the idea of it is to have a dress rehearsal, but of course you’re not going to bottom him 10 days out from the race,” Hayes said.
“Whatever he does, whatever margin he wins by or loses by, you know that he’s not flat out in the trial – we’ll just stretch his legs.
“He’s really good at the moment. He’s 30lb bigger than last year, everything he’s doing in quarantine the markers are so much better than the year before, and hopefully we get a nice, smooth trial and have a much nicer 10 days before than I did last year.”
Tuesday’s trial is scheduled for 7am Hong Kong time and will be broadcast on the Jockey Club’s online platforms.
Ka Ying Rising remains a hot $1.3 favourite for The Everest in overseas markets, with last year’s runner-up Tempted firming from $8 to $6 after her sensational Group Two Premiere Stakes (1,200m) victory at Randwick on Saturday.
It was Tempted’s fifth win from as many starts since her second behind Ka Ying Rising 12 months ago.
“Visually you couldn’t see a better win – she looked great. She must be very, very good,” Hayes said of the Ciaron Maher-trained Tempted.
“But then I looked at the field and not one of those horses is in The Everest.
“I think it will be very similar [to last year]. She’s gone on and won five, undefeated, Jimmystar’s won two Group Ones and Ka Ying’s broken five track records in a row and Ka Ying when he came to Australia last year was the highest [rated] sprinter in the world but the fourth-highest horse.
“Now it’s daylight second for the sprinter and he’s the highest-rated horse, so he’s improved a lot too.”
Buoyed by Tempted’s three-length romp on Saturday, Maher declared “we’ve definitely got a chance” against Ka Ying Rising in the world’s richest turf race.
“She’s very good, but I did look at Ka Ying when I was in quarantine on Friday at Canterbury and it’s an absolute machine,” Maher said.
“Ka Ying, he’s a freak of nature and he looks fantastic, but I’m rapt with Tempted.”
Before flying to Sydney on Sunday night, Hayes slotted a double at Sha Tin on Sunday courtesy of Kol and All Round Winner.
