Hayes Declares Ka Ying Rising Better Than Ever

An impressive final serious gallop at Canterbury on Monday has reinforced David Hayes' conviction that Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising is even more formidable than the champion who demolished Australia's leading sprinters last year, with the nine-time Gr1 winner preparing to defend his crown in Saturday's $20 million Gr1 TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick. Seeking an extraordinary 22nd consecutive victory, the world's highest-rated racehorse has responded positively to his Australian preparation, shedding approximately 4.5kg since his relatively subdued second placing in a Randwick barrier trial last Tuesday and producing his strongest workout since arriving in Sydney. According to the South China Morning Post, Hayes described the gelding as 10% better than last year following a sustained gallop in which he completed a lengthy warm-up before accelerating from the 600m and travelling strongly through the Canterbury straight. The trainer reported an unofficial sectional of approximately 36.5 seconds, but was particularly encouraged by the horse's recovery following the effort, regarding that aspect as a significant indication of his improving fitness. Although Ka Ying Rising's Randwick trial raised questions among some observers, Hayes believes the outing served its intended purpose by sharpening a horse who had not faced a serious competitive examination for five weeks. Champion jockey Zac Purton had expressed reservations about the gelding's effectiveness on genuinely rain-affected Australian surfaces following the trial, particularly with showers forecast throughout the week, but Hayes remains confident that his exceptional sprinter can handle whatever conditions materialise. The trainer explained that differences between Hong Kong and Australian turf surfaces could influence how the horse travels, noting that Hong Kong tracks generally feature tighter grass and that Ka Ying Rising possesses a low, efficient galloping action. Hayes also recalled watching the gelding perform impressively in an Australian trial on heavy ground before purchasing him, an experience that continues to inform his confidence in the champion's versatility. The barrier draw, scheduled for Tuesday evening, is another factor that causes the trainer little concern, given Ka Ying Rising's proven ability to win from inside, middle and outside gates throughout his remarkable career. Nevertheless, a favourable inside draw would provide an obvious tactical advantage against a high-class field assembled specifically to challenge his supremacy. Hayes believes the champion's extraordinary consistency and capacity to accelerate under pressure make him exceptionally difficult to defeat, although the presence of outstanding Australian rivals ensures that the contest remains one of the most compelling international sprinting confrontations of the year. With 21 successive victories already secured and nine triumphs at the elite level, Ka Ying Rising stands on the threshold of further racing history, while his trainer's latest assessment suggests that the gelding responsible for last year's spectacular Everest performance may have returned to Australia an even more complete athlete.

Ka Ying Rising appears to have more to give (pic: supplied)