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By Ray Hickson

He’s already a Group 1 winner but there’s no telling just where War Machine might stand at the end of his career.

War Machine's co-trainer Will Hayes.

That’s the view of co-trainer Will Hayes, who along with brothers Ben and JD is sending the emerging five-year-old on a mission to beat their father David’s superstar Ka Ying Rising in Saturday’s Group 1 $20 million TAB Everest (1200m) at Randwick.

War Machine brings a very Everest friendly form line into his biggest test as the winner of the Stradbroke Handicap earlier this year – the same race that produced Think About It in 2023 and Bella Nipotina last year prior to their Everest successes.

Hayes said the gelding has continued to lift with each run, for four wins, since joining Lindsay Park and there’s no reason to think he’s done yet.

“We certainly don’t know his ceiling, he gives us the impression he’ll rise to every occasion,” Hayes said.

“No doubt the Everest is definitely the deep end but with how popular he was after the Gilgai we wouldn’t not take the temptation.

“We’re going to get a good guide on his ceiling and I think he’s going to give a lot of people a shock.”

The gelding picked up the Coolmore slot in the TAB Everest after his soft first-up win in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes down the Flemington straight two weeks ago.

Hayes believes War Machine has been underestimated in the market, though he had firmed to $11 by Thursday, and he’s set to be the beneficiary of a perfect run in the Everest.

“The draw is perfect, we were absolutely thrilled with it, and I think the way he travelled in the Gilgai I could see us settling forward of midfield just with how well he travelled first-up,’’ he said.

“From the soft draw the pace of the race is going to allow us to find our rhythm. I think we’re going to get a smooth run in transit regardless of where we are, whether it be box seat, midfield or worse.

“If he’s worse than midfield they’re going very fast.

“His last piece of work on Tuesday was terrific. We couldn’t be more thrilled with him and he’s pulled up well.”

The Hayes siblings have inside information into how good Ka Ying Rising is as they were responsible for his early training, producing him for two jump outs and a barrier trial, before he was sent to their father in Hong Kong.

He said as talented as Ka Ying Rising is, and with respect to his reputation, it won’t be an easy feat to win.

“The Australian sprinters are very good, there’s no doubting what he’s done in Hong Kong,’’ Hayes said.

“Playing away from home is very hard to do so he’s got to do it away from home and if he comes and conquers the Everest he really does cement his status as the world’s best sprinter.”

And if War Machine wins? “That’s the only horse that could soften the blow for the old man.”

While Hayes is looking to War Machine to develop into their new stable star, the current holder of that status is chasing a tenth Group 1 win in the $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m).

Mr Brightside, runner-up to Fangirl in the 2023 edition, returns to Randwick an easy winner of the Makybe Diva Stakes.

WAR MACHINE ⚡⚡

What a return! Everest next @lindsayparkrace 🤔 pic.twitter.com/cRmjVZN7fe

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 4, 2025

War Machine wins the Gilgai at Flemington (Video: 7HorseRacing on X)

It’s guaranteed, with the inclusion of Pride Of Jenni, that he won’t be given as soft a run but Hayes said he’s ever reliable.

“He’s our banner horse and we owe him everything,’’ he said.

“It was very nice of them to forget about him in the Makybe Diva and let him have a picnic out front.

“Unfortunately we have the visitor’s draw so it won’t be as straightforward but he’s a horse that rocks up and is competitive in every race.

“I think he’s got to the point where he’s got nothing left to prove and everything else is a bonus. He’s in this race right up to his eyeballs.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s TAB Everest meeting at Randwick