Ka Ying Rising ‘10 per cent better’ as he impresses David Hayes in key Everest gallop

Ka Ying Rising has lost 10lb since his Randwick trial last week and David Hayes has declared his champion sprinter “10 per cent better” than last year as he prepares to defend his crown in Saturday’s Group One The Everest (1,200m).

Hayes said Ka Ying Rising has improved significantly since his solid but unspectacular second on a soft Randwick track in last Tuesday’s trial, with the nine-time Group One winner impressing in his final main gallop at Canterbury on Monday morning.

Bidding for a 22nd straight victory in the world’s richest turf race, Ka Ying Rising thrived in his most serious piece of work on Monday since arriving in Australia, apart from the trial.

“He had a nice, long, steady canter to warm up and then he quickened from the 600m and was rolling down the straight,’’ Hayes said.

“I’m not sure if the times are right but we got hm at 36.5, the riding boy was very happy and what I was particularly happy with was the recovery.

“He had an easier gallop going into the trial but what the trial has done has got him back into game day mode and that was his strongest piece.”

Hayes reiterated his belief that a wet track on Saturday won’t hinder Ka Ying Rising, despite the concerns of champion jockey Zac Purton and many others.

All eyes will be on Sydney’s weather, with rain forecast for most of the week.

“We probably need to have a bad day and they have a very good day to beat him,’’ Hayes said. “The Hong Kong wet track is a bit different to the Australian wet track. The grass is a bit tighter and he has a daisy cutting action.

“Zac has a query on an Aussie wet, I don’t. I’m not worried. I think the other day Zac thought he laboured a little bit, in the trial, I think that was fitness and having a good look around and it was his first hit out in five weeks.

“Zac has given himself a bit of wiggle room, but when I bought him I saw him a win a trial on heavy ground in Australia. It was only a trial but he looked pretty good, I bought him.”

The barrier draw for the A$20 million (HK$109.66 million) The Everest will take place on Tuesday night, but Hayes is not fussed which gate Ka Ying Rising draws.

“He’s won from the inside, the middle, the outside. He gets the job done. He’s done it 21 times in a row,’’ he said.

“Obviously closer to the rail is better but I wouldn’t be in a panic if he drew wide, he’s so fast.”