Ka Ying Rising is expected to arrive in Sydney later this month, before two weeks in quarantine and then a short preparation for the Group 1 Everest.
The David Hayes-trained Ka Ying Rising is the $1.70 favourite for the Everest and is the world’s top rated sprinter after winning 14 of his first 16 starts, including a current run of 13, which has netted more than $10million in prize money.
Hayes, who is in his second stint in Hong Kong racing after a successful raid early in his career, is beginning to hit his straps and Ka Ying Rising is undoubtedly his stable star, which is backed up by the decision to bring leading Hong Kong jockey Zac Purton, another ex-pat Aussie out to ride him.
Hayes’ star galloper is not the only big name heading out to Australia for the $81million Sydney Everest Carnival, with a select group of gallopers primarily targeting The Group 1 $20 million Everest and Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes at Royal Randwick (18 October) and the $10 million Golden Eagle at Royal Randwick (1 November).
Ka Ying Rising, favourite with all Aussie bookmakers, will be the centre of world racing eyes when he touches down in Sydney on September 22 and heads to the Canterbury Quarantine Centre.
After spending two weeks in isolation at Canterbury, Ka Ying Rising with his trainer and jockey head to Royal Randwick for a barrier trial and major public event at Royal Randwick on Tuesday, October 7. His preparation will continue to build at Canterbury ahead of the world’s richest race on turf, Sydney’s iconic $20 million Everest at Royal Randwick.
UK training maestro William Haggas sends Lake Forest back to Sydney as the stable looks to build on a remarkable record at Autumn and Spring carnivals.
Lake Forest won last year’s $10 million Golden Eagle and is being aimed at Group 1 glory in the $5 million King Charles III Stakes at Royal Randwick on Everest Day.
Stablemate Sam Hawkens will also travel to Canterbury Quarantine with a primary goal of running in the $500,000 ATC St Leger Stakes, another feature race on the bumper card on TAB Everest Day.
The William Haggas stable has won 11 races and two placings in Sydney over the past five years at a whopping strike rate of 45.83%, including six Group 1s.
Amongst a second shipment of international runners deeper in the Spring will be a group of high-class Japanese gallopers and other UK horses targeting the $10 million Golden Eagle at Royal Randwick on November 1.
Japanese star eyes Group 1 Golden Eagle glory
Panja Tower is aiming to be the second Japanese horse in three years to win the Golden Eagle and will be prepared by trainer Shinsuke Hashiguchi.
Japanese horse Obamburumai won the Golden Eagle in 2023.
Two UK gallopers in Seagulls Eleven for trainer Hugo Palmer and the Charlie Fellowes trained Luther are also heading to Sydney for the Golden Eagle.
Australian Turf Club Head of Racing and Wagering Nevesh Ramdhani said the Sydney Everest Carnival in Spring had become a major focus of world racing and leading stables across several distances and age groups.
“Sydney will host the world’s best sprinter, some of the biggest trainers in UK racing, and another contingent of Japanese runners, all targeting a range of multi-million dollar races throughout October and November,’’ Mr Ramdhani said.
“The international interest in the Sydney Spring continues to grow and trainers are realising a select and special horse is needed to compete and win against our very best.
“We are also seeing more horses being sent to Sydney to compete and then remain here with local trainers to race all year round, which is another significant vote of confidence in our racing.”
