Hong Kong-based trainer David Hayes has welcomed changes to the Spring Carnival protocols announced by Racing Victoria on Monday, declaring his star galloper Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) a likely challenger for the 2026 Gr.1 Champions Sprint (1200m) on the final day of Melbourne Cup Week.
The Australian Hall Of Fame trainer had campaigned against international horses that were not contesting the Caulfield or Melbourne Cups or Cox Plate having to have a further CT scan before each new race in Australia.
The newly announced RV change to drop that requirement effectively means that after undergoing an initial pre-travel scan, horses such as Ka Ying Rising won’t be required to have another in the weeks between races such as The Everest and Champions Sprint.
Hayes said from Hong Kong on Monday that while he has already made plans for this year with Ka Ying Rising, around The Everest, other Sydney bonus races and then the Hong Kong Sprint in December, that likely won’t be the case a year later.
“We’ve now got plans in place for this year, which will see him stay in Sydney, but I would love to get this horse to Flemington to race and so in 12 months’ time, that will be the likely plan,” he said.
“I’m really pleased the changes have been made as it would have been very difficult for a travelling horse with all the things they have to deal with, to have another scan.”
Hayes said Ka Ying Rising, who has won 13 of his 15 starts, including his past 12 in a row, is under light work in ready for the spring, with the world’s premier sprinter likely to have one run in Hong Kong before his Everest tilt.