David Hayes has boldly predicted that Sydney’s fickle weather will define whether the world’s highest-rated galloper Ka Ying Rising will be vulnerable in Saturday’s (17 October) G1 The Everest or break the Randwick 1200m track record.
Defending his title in the world’s richest turf race, Ka Ying Rising will again be ridden by Zac Purton as the six-year-old gelding aims to stretch his unbeaten sequence to 22 wins and further underline his status as the world’s best horse in the AU$20 million (approx. HK$109.5 million) contest.
Heavy rain has continued to fall in Sydney, Australia, and while the track is expected to be rain-affected, there is speculation about how it will be rated on race day.
“I feel like I know every weatherman in Sydney,” Hayes quipped. “If the track is heavy, it’s a bit of an unknown. I’m very confident he can handle a slow or dead track and of course, if we get a good track by some fluke, he’d be a good chance of breaking the (track) record.”
Hayes admitted he’d be concerned if the track was rated a heavy nine or worse. Ka Ying Rising was allocated barrier 11 in the 12-horse field at Tuesday’s (13 October) official draw, but it didn’t overly concern Hayes.
“I can only speak for Zac and he really wanted to draw not one or seven, because he goes in first because of the way they do it here (in Sydney),” Hayes said. “He can be a little bit touchy in the gates, so I would say Purton will be happier with the barrier, because he goes in late and jumps and gets going.”
Ka Ying Rising won from barrier seven in last year’s feature. Tempted, who was formerly trained by James Cummings before being transferred to Ciaron Maher, is predicted to be the biggest impediment to Ka Ying Rising’s chances.
Tempted was second in the race last year, just over a length behind Ka Ying Rising. Drawn in barrier one, Tempted has won her past five races and has a record of nine wins, two seconds and two thirds from 14 starts.
She also has five wins and one second from six races at the track and distance. Her last victory was at Randwick on a soft track – she is unbeaten in four races on soft going – when she won impressively by three lengths in the G2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) on 3 October.
Maher also saddles Jimmysstar, third in The Everest last year, who returned to form on his last start with victory in the G1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
“He’s (Ka Ying Rising) a freak of nature, and he looks fantastic, but I’m rapt with Tempted. We’ve definitely got a chance,” Maher said. “She just loves Randwick – her record speaks for itself.
“Ka Ying Rising is probably not quite at his best on rain-affected tracks and hopefully for our sake, but probably not for his sake, the rain keeps coming.”
Jamie Melham, who rode Half Yours to a historic Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double last year, has opted to bypass the chance to defend her G1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) title on Saturday to ride three-year-old filly Blue Door for Bjorn Baker in The Everest.
Baker said the front-running Blue Door, who will carry just 51kg (112lb), is extremely quick, particularly out of the gates.
“She is coming out of two very fast races, one a track record over 1100m at Rosehill. I am confident if she is not leading, she will be very close. I think that’s her weapon – her speed.”
Baker will also saddle Caballus, winner of the G1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington in March. “If he gets back to his best, he is not out of it,” he said.
Baker also has the first reserve, Overpass.
Chris Waller’s two runners, Angel Capital and Joliestar, are both considered to be threats, while 2022 winner Giga Kick returns for another crack at The Everest.
The G1 The Everest (1200m) is carded as S1-2 and will be run at 1.15pm (Hong Kong time) on Saturday, 17 October.