Latest News

By Ray Hickson

If the weather does it’s thing, trainer David Hayes says his champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising is in the sort of shape that could give the Randwick course record a shake.

David Hayes after Ka Ying Rising's Canterbury gallop. (Pic: Georgia Young).

That’s the sort of confidence Hayes has in the world’s best sprinter as he shrugged off rumours that all was not well with the gelding through the weekend as “fake news”.

Talk that all was not well began after he was beaten in his Randwick barrier trial last week and it reached a boiling point on Sunday evening when betting was briefly suspended, he’s now $1.75 with TAB, and Hayes was forced to pour cold water on the rumours.

Ka Ying Rising’s health was there for all to see as he completed his build up with a gallop at Canterbury for Saturday’s Group 1 $20 million TAB Everest (1200m) and Hayes declared him as the horse to beat.

“He went out on the beautiful Canterbury track and ran home in 38 under a nice hold, his recovery was excellent and I think he’s really improved from the trial,’’ Hayes said.

“The idea of the trial was to bring him on and I think it has, and I’m very happy with him. He’s ready to rumble.

“I came back from trackwork yesterday telling my wife I think the horse is as good as I can have him then to read all that in the afternoon was amazing. I thought it was funny at first but after three hours of it I did my block.

“I’d say if the conditions are right on the weekend he’ll give the record a shake.”

Yes Yes Yes holds the Randwick 1200m record at 1:07.32 which was set in the 2019 TAB Everest.

Hayes said he rated Ka Ying Rising’s barrier trial as a “7 out of 10” but he’s adamant if he’d have trialled on Monday morning he’d be a “9 or 10” as his weight has come back to a similar mark to what it was before he left Hong Kong.

He said for a horse that has travelled it’s a sign he’s handling the ordeal in his stride so sees no reason why Sydney won’t see the best of Ka Ying Rising.

“He’s embraced the travelling. It must be remembered he’d never seen Randwick until that day, if he went down there today he’d be fine,’’ he said.

Ka Ying Rising enjoying the Canterbury sun after his Monday gallop. (Pic: Georgia Young).

“That dress rehearsal helped a lot, I probably won’t show him too much to the public because he’s not used to this environment.

“The ATC, if he’s a bit uptight, is allowing us to go out the back, I understand Winx was able to do that as well.

"They will have to be very good to beat him.”

The next hurdle for Ka Ying Rising to leap is Tuesday night’s barrier draw and Hayes said he and jockey Zac Purton can be a lot more relaxed about that compared to back in Hong Kong.

While he’d prefer something close to the rail, the layout at Randwick is a lot kinder than what the five-year-old encounters at home.

“In Hong Kong they jump and really go hard because they’ve only got 200m to the turn,’’ he said.

“In Sydney they have a nice 600m or 700m run so the tempo is not quite as hectic so the barrier is not so important.

“He has incredible gate speed and he’s got the ability to take a sit so he’s pretty foolproof.

“If the pace is fast, Zac will sit third and if the pace if fast he’ll lead. We’ll work it out on the day.”

Racing NSW - your home of live racing, form, tips and the latest news.