How Everest favourite Ka Ying Rising behaves before and how he pulls up from a course proper barrier trial at Randwick next month will be just as crucial as to what he does during the 1000m hit out.
Trainer David Hayes says the superstar Hong Kong sprinter “won’t be out to break records” in the Randwick trial on October 7, 11 days before his $20 million Australian assignment, but the horse’s attitude and condition will be closely monitored to ensure the meticulously planned campaign remains on track.
“He’s working on his own all the time in quarantine (at Canterbury) and that will be a bit of a competitive company to trial against,” Hayes said from Hong Kong during an Australian Turf Club media conference.
“He won't be out to break records, but we'll certainly let him increase the last 200 metres in the trial to stretch his legs out.
“It's just as important for my staff to have a dress rehearsal of what to expect at Randwick.
“And so the horse and staff, they get a trip in the float. Here in Hong Kong, we walk to the track and we're basically at the races and we're home. In Australia, he's got to settle in and do things.
“So, that's a very important day for him. I'll be down there monitoring how the horse is coping and pointing the staff in the right direction.”
Ka Ying Rising made it 13 wins in succession and 14 victories from 16 starts with an effortless first-up win at Sha Tin on September 7 under jockey Zac Purton, the man who has ridden the son of Shamexpress in all but two of his race starts.
The horse arrived in Sydney on Monday, escaping Typhoon Ragasa, and had a canter in front of the media at Canterbury on Thursday.
Purton will fly in for the barrier trial before returning to Hong Kong to meet his race day commitments, but Hayes intends to stay in Sydney until the Everest once he lands early next month to put the finishing touches on Ka Ying Rising’s preparation.
“I just want to see how the horse handles it and what I need to do (with him) afterwards,” Hayes said.
As far as travelling from Canterbury to Randwick, no more than a 20km float trip, Hayes holds no concerns with Ka Ying Rising handling the experience as he is a regular at the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s mainland China facility, Conghua.
“When he was at Lindsay Park, he used to travel down to Flemington (from Euroa) regularly, which is a two-hour, three-hour float trip. And going to Conghua would be the equivalent of going from Flemington to Albury to be trained,” the trainer said.
“So he's done a lot of three-hour float trips and handles it very well and never lets me down.”
Ka Ying Rising, who will run in the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s slot it is leasing from the ATC, is the $1.70 favourite for The Everest ahead of Lady Shenandoah ($7), who will round out her Everest audition in Friday’s Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Joliestar, who won The Shorts first-up at Randwick last weekend, is third elect for The Everest at $8.
