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Ka Ying Confirms World's Best Status As Hayes Conquers Everest

By Ray Hickson

He came, he gave us all a fright, and then he conquered.

David Hayes accepts his TAB Everest trophy from Racing NSW chair Saranne Cooke (Pic: Bradley Photos)

Ka Ying Rising showed Sydney why he’s the world’s best sprinter with a showstopping victory in the Group 1 $20 million TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick.

And for trainer David Hayes it was mission accomplished and the end of “the longest 10 days of my life” as he had to endure a lot of rumour and speculation about the horse’s fitness over the past week.

But his view of Ka Ying Rising was vindicated as he took over early in the straight and held just over a length on Ciaron Maher’s Godolphin filly Tempted and stablemate Jimmysstar in third.

“It’s a long straight when you hit the front with 300m to go but I think he held on pretty well,’’ Hayes said.

“I would have been shattered if he lost today, truth be known, when he was calm an hour before the race.

“There was no sweat between his legs and was absolutely perfect, that made me feel quietly confident.

“I think there’s more to come from this horse and it’s certainly the biggest thrill of my life.”

As he reflected on the past two weeks, Hayes said the dress rehearsal Ka Ying Rising had on October 7 was instrumental in securing his Everest win.

While the trial defeat was heavily scrutinised he said it served its purpose and the evidence was there for all to see as he held a high class group of sprinters at bay.

“He blew out all the mothballs and a lot of people were very critical of the trial but he still beat 20 Group 1 winners and ran third not really tested,’’ he said.

He (Better Loosen Up) was the last world champion rated horse I’ve trained and this is the next one. A lot of good horses in between but these are the two stars.”

Hayes competed in the first two editions of the TAB Everest, running second in 2017 with Vega Magic, and he said he’ll bring Ka Ying Rising back in 2026 to defend the title.

He’s carried the hopes of Hong Kong since he arrived in Sydney last month and Hayes said the weight of expectation can be lifted now he’s got the job done.

“I think it will be wonderful (for Hong Kong racing), he’s the pin-up boy there,’’ he said.

Jockey Zac Purton said the race couldn’t have panned out better for Ka Ying Rising.

After jumping well he was able to slide forward as Overpass came across to sit outside Mazu and that duo didn’t get along quite as fast as expected.

From there it was a matter of going through the motions for Purton.

“He had a beautiful run in the race,” he said.

“Ethan (Brown on Jimmysstar) was trying to sneak up on my outside but we just had to make sure we had the room which was pretty easy because we had the room which was pretty easy because of the pace of the race.

.”
Ka Ying Rising wins the TAB Everest

“Overpass skipped for him early and I had to chase him. To my horse’s credit, he wasn’t letting him go. He got the better of me in the trial and we said that he’s not going to get the better of me in the race.

“We chased him down and coasted to the line.”

The scary thing is that Purton said the Ka Ying Rising he knows in Hong Kong is a lot better than the Everest winning version.

“I don’t think we saw him at his best today but even though he wasn’t at his best he’s still good enough,’’ he said.

Check out the replays and results from TAB Everest Day at Royal Randwick

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