Trainer David Hayes reveals that sprint superstar Ka Ying Rising will have two runs in Sydney this spring
With Hall of Fame trainer David Hayes revealing plans to set Ka Ying Rising for the two Sydney sprints, it is understood Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) is emerging as a potential buyer for a vacant slot in the $20 million The TAB Everest, which has World Pool status.
There are three The Everest slots that could change hands later this year – definitely The Star's slot, and possibly TAB and Australian Turf Club.
If HKJC does buy an Everest slot, it would be a logical fit for them to select their own champion, Ka Ying Rising, the world's number one ranked sprinter.
Hayes confirmed Ka Ying Rising will stay in Sydney for a two-race spring campaign that includes the world's richest turf race, the $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 18, boasting first prizemoney of $7,500,000.
Then two weeks later is the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens which offers $1.725 million to the winner.
In addition, there is a $1 million bonus for any horse that can win The Everest-Russell Balding double.
Bella Nipotina became the first to win both races last spring. She ran 1m 8.76s on a soft 5 track in The Everest then raced away with the Russell Balding stakes in 1m 14.96s – taking less than 2m 24s to claim the mega-rich sprint double.
Ka Ying Rising, which has won 12 races in succession, is already $1.90 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds for The Everest and is set to start the shortest favourite in the race's history. Nature Strip was $1.90 when he ran fourth to Giga Kick in the 2022 The Everest.
Hayes said Racing Victoria's strict veterinary protocols led to his decision to keep Ka Ying Rising in Sydney after The Everest and not aim the freakish sprinter at the Group 1 Champion's Sprint at Flemington.
'The race (Russell Balding Stakes) after The Everest carries a bonus for The Everest winner,'' Hayes said.
'It means he doesn't have to do any extra travelling and doesn't have to go through the protocols again to run in Melbourne, so the protocols made my decision very easy.
'It's a rule that needs to be looked at and reviewed, but it's the rule at the moment so while the rule's in place, I won't consider Melbourne. I would understand if it's his first run in Australia but it's not.
'I would have dearly loved to have shown him off in Victoria – it's my hometown and it would have been great to run there, but the protocols aren't making it favourable.
'I'm not asking for any favours, but I think they should review the rule. I think it's overkill.
'The horse has to go to hospital to have the tests - normally healthy horses aren't in hospital – he has to travel which is another risk, have a day away from his routine feed and be tranquillised to have it done, so it's quite an ordeal.'
Hayes said Ka Ying Rising left his Hong Kong stables on Monday for a spell in China after completing a perfect season, winning eight races including four at Group 1 level culminating with the Chairman's Sprint Prize last start.
Ka Ying Rising has earned a lofty Timeform figure of 132 which makes him clearly the highest-rated sprinter in the world.
Hayes said he believes there is enough time after the two Sydney races to get Ka Ying Rising back to Hong Kong to prepare for his defence of the Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin in December.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Skyhook carries weight of expectation to set up path to Golden Rose
Lady Shenandoah changes course Top trainer Chris Waller will likely hold Lady Shenandoah back from the Winx Stakes and take her down a sprinting path, potentially towards the $20 million The Everest. Waller gave star mares Via Sistina, Fangirl and Aeliana an exhibition gallop at Rosehill after race one on Saturday, before another two, Autumn Glow and Lady Shenandoah, went around following race two. Before Saturday, Via Sistina, Fangirl, Aeliana and Lady Shenandoah were set to clash first-up in next week's season-opening group 1, the Winx Stakes (1400m), at Randwick. However, Lady Shenandoah was under a strong hold from James McDonald in the gallop before Waller said the Snitzel mare, unbeaten at three and a three-time group 1 winner, was instead set to resume in the $1 million September 6 Concorde Stakes over 1000m at Randwick. Waller said the decision to go down a 'sprinting path' came because his star team was already 'top heavy with mile-2000m horses' and Lady Shenandoah's best win last preparation was over the 1200m of the Light Fingers Stakes. As for a shot at October 18 Everest, he said: 'I've fallen into the trap before of just saying yes, but I just think let them have their first runs. That's going to be 1000m. 'Then she can go to wherever we want. She can go to a Manikato, back for an Everest, she can stay in Sydney and we can still plot a path to the Golden Eagle or step her up at any stage because we know she can win over a mile.' On a heavy 9, Lady Shenandoah ran 53 seconds over 800m, with a last 600m of 38.12. Unbeaten fellow four-year-old Autumn Glow, which is on an Epsom Handicap path and is set to resume in the Toy Show (1100m) or Show County (1200m) qualities next week, went 51.16 and 36.71. Over 1000m, Via Sistina ran 105.49 and 37.26, Aeliana 105.92 and 36.47, and Fangirl 106.10 and 37.27. Waller said Lindermann and Full Count Felicia would join that trio in the Winx Stakes. Wyong Cup on radar for Amusing Chris Waller was reassessing targets for Godolphin mare Amusing and eyeing another wet track for Pippie Beach after they gave him and top jockey James McDonald a double at Rosehill. Amusing made it back-to-back wins with Waller after edging out stablemate Travolta and apprentice Siena Grima in a willing battle over the final 200m of the 1900m benchmark 78 handicap. Waller praised both rides and said Amusing's fitness edge was key to the win, which has Amusing 'heading down the right path to black-type'. He was looking at listed Wyong Cup (2100m) on September 5 as a possible target. 'After her last win, I was thinking the Aspiration and the Epona in the autumn, but after today, do you look at a Wyong Cup or something while the other horses are getting fit and she's rock-hard fit?' Waller said. 'The distance will be no problem, we've just got to get her to settle better.' Earlier, Pippie Beach made it three wins from four heavy track runs, holding off stablemate Sister Daae by three-quarters of a length in the fillies and mares benchmark 78 (1400m). 'James offset the weight [60kg] with a perfect ride from the draw,' Waller said. 'She will come back and might pick up some black-type in a race like the Aspiration, and if the weather is still the same in another two weeks, she might run again.' Gear change ignites Fully Lit Trainer Adrian Bott believed the removal of blinkers helped Fully Lit scorch away at Rosehill on Saturday to a dominant victory – his first since taking out the $2 million Inglis Millennium 18 months ago. Unplaced in five starts this preparation, the Hellbent four-year-old, a $13 chance with Sportsbet, led the 1400m benchmark 78 for the boys and kicked clear under Adam Hyeronimus to win by more than five lengths]. Bott was surprised by the margin but not the win. 'I've been able to make an excuse for his races to date,' Bott said. Loading 'He's just never had the conditions to suit, we've been tinkering with his gear, the distance ranges, but importantly, I think getting back onto an improving track and just aided by a lovely ride by Adam where the horse was comfortable from the outset. 'I think the blinkers coming off [helped]. He got up overracing outside the lead two starts ago and he was too fierce within himself.' Breakthrough win for O'Halloran Hawkesbury trainer Stephen O'Halloran was celebrating a first Saturday city winner after Mal Coupe scored a fighting half-neck victory over favourite Polyglot in the benchmark 78 (1100m). It was a fourth win across the four-year-old's past five starts. The victory followed a Canterbury midweek win and came after he broke his maiden at Bathurst in May. 'The horse, every time we've set a bar to him, he's answered the question,' O'Halloran said. 'I would have been more confident last week, going for the Midway, but they abandoned the races and I thought we were maybe going a little bit of a step too far for him, but the horse has done a super preparation and doesn't know how to run a bad race. 'He won at Canterbury for me, which was really good, in the city, but to win at Rosehill on a Saturday it would be up there with the best I've had.'
The Age
a day ago
- The Age
Skyhook carries weight of expectation to set up path to Golden Rose
Lady Shenandoah changes course Top trainer Chris Waller will likely hold Lady Shenandoah back from the Winx Stakes and take her down a sprinting path, potentially towards the $20 million The Everest. Waller gave star mares Via Sistina, Fangirl and Aeliana an exhibition gallop at Rosehill after race one on Saturday, before another two, Autumn Glow and Lady Shenandoah, went around following race two. Before Saturday, Via Sistina, Fangirl, Aeliana and Lady Shenandoah were set to clash first-up in next week's season-opening group 1, the Winx Stakes (1400m), at Randwick. However, Lady Shenandoah was under a strong hold from James McDonald in the gallop before Waller said the Snitzel mare, unbeaten at three and a three-time group 1 winner, was instead set to resume in the $1 million September 6 Concorde Stakes over 1000m at Randwick. Waller said the decision to go down a 'sprinting path' came because his star team was already 'top heavy with mile-2000m horses' and Lady Shenandoah's best win last preparation was over the 1200m of the Light Fingers Stakes. As for a shot at October 18 Everest, he said: 'I've fallen into the trap before of just saying yes, but I just think let them have their first runs. That's going to be 1000m. 'Then she can go to wherever we want. She can go to a Manikato, back for an Everest, she can stay in Sydney and we can still plot a path to the Golden Eagle or step her up at any stage because we know she can win over a mile.' On a heavy 9, Lady Shenandoah ran 53 seconds over 800m, with a last 600m of 38.12. Unbeaten fellow four-year-old Autumn Glow, which is on an Epsom Handicap path and is set to resume in the Toy Show (1100m) or Show County (1200m) qualities next week, went 51.16 and 36.71. Over 1000m, Via Sistina ran 105.49 and 37.26, Aeliana 105.92 and 36.47, and Fangirl 106.10 and 37.27. Waller said Lindermann and Full Count Felicia would join that trio in the Winx Stakes. Wyong Cup on radar for Amusing Chris Waller was reassessing targets for Godolphin mare Amusing and eyeing another wet track for Pippie Beach after they gave him and top jockey James McDonald a double at Rosehill. Amusing made it back-to-back wins with Waller after edging out stablemate Travolta and apprentice Siena Grima in a willing battle over the final 200m of the 1900m benchmark 78 handicap. Waller praised both rides and said Amusing's fitness edge was key to the win, which has Amusing 'heading down the right path to black-type'. He was looking at listed Wyong Cup (2100m) on September 5 as a possible target. 'After her last win, I was thinking the Aspiration and the Epona in the autumn, but after today, do you look at a Wyong Cup or something while the other horses are getting fit and she's rock-hard fit?' Waller said. 'The distance will be no problem, we've just got to get her to settle better.' Earlier, Pippie Beach made it three wins from four heavy track runs, holding off stablemate Sister Daae by three-quarters of a length in the fillies and mares benchmark 78 (1400m). 'James offset the weight [60kg] with a perfect ride from the draw,' Waller said. 'She will come back and might pick up some black-type in a race like the Aspiration, and if the weather is still the same in another two weeks, she might run again.' Gear change ignites Fully Lit Trainer Adrian Bott believed the removal of blinkers helped Fully Lit scorch away at Rosehill on Saturday to a dominant victory – his first since taking out the $2 million Inglis Millennium 18 months ago. Unplaced in five starts this preparation, the Hellbent four-year-old, a $13 chance with Sportsbet, led the 1400m benchmark 78 for the boys and kicked clear under Adam Hyeronimus to win by more than five lengths]. Bott was surprised by the margin but not the win. 'I've been able to make an excuse for his races to date,' Bott said. Loading 'He's just never had the conditions to suit, we've been tinkering with his gear, the distance ranges, but importantly, I think getting back onto an improving track and just aided by a lovely ride by Adam where the horse was comfortable from the outset. 'I think the blinkers coming off [helped]. He got up overracing outside the lead two starts ago and he was too fierce within himself.' Breakthrough win for O'Halloran Hawkesbury trainer Stephen O'Halloran was celebrating a first Saturday city winner after Mal Coupe scored a fighting half-neck victory over favourite Polyglot in the benchmark 78 (1100m). It was a fourth win across the four-year-old's past five starts. The victory followed a Canterbury midweek win and came after he broke his maiden at Bathurst in May. 'The horse, every time we've set a bar to him, he's answered the question,' O'Halloran said. 'I would have been more confident last week, going for the Midway, but they abandoned the races and I thought we were maybe going a little bit of a step too far for him, but the horse has done a super preparation and doesn't know how to run a bad race. 'He won at Canterbury for me, which was really good, in the city, but to win at Rosehill on a Saturday it would be up there with the best I've had.'
The Australian
3 days ago
- The Australian
2025 Golden Eagle: Aidan O'Brien keen to saddle up January
Irish training genius Aidan O'Brien has designs on the $10 million Golden Eagle with classy filly January as the number of international runners swells to record numbers for the Sydney spring carnival. January is the latest of an ever-increasing list of northern hemisphere-trained horses set to race in Sydney this spring including the world's best sprinter, Hong Kong champion Ka Ying Rising. Ka Ying Rising will be in Sydney for the Group 1 $20 million The TAB Everest at Royal Randwick on October 18, there is a likelihood last year's Golden Eagle winner, England's Lake Forest will return for the Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes on Everest Day, and at least four overseas horses are being set for the Golden Eagle at the same track on November 1. The Sydney spring carnival was once a barren wasteland for international competition until the introduction of The Everest in 2017. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! As the Sydney spring carnival has grown and included more big-money races like the Golden Eagle and King Charles III Stakes, international interest has soared. Australian Turf Club's Head of Racing and Wagering, Nevesh Ramdhani, recently returned from an international equine recruiting mission in England, France and Japan, and said it was significant some of Europe's biggest trainers like O'Brien, William Haggas, Charlie Fellowes and Hugo Palmer were planning on sending horses to Sydney for the spring carnival. 'Sydney's spring carnival is at the front of mind for a lot of European trainers,'' Ramdhani said. 'If they have horses that like a little bit of 'cut' in the ground, Sydney is their first thought. 'The prizemoney is so good, there's the strength of our races, the hospitality is second-to-none, and the equine veterinary protocols we have here are more receptive and conducive for international horses.'' • Show us the money: New global jockeys league hunts private funding O'Brien, the world's leading trainer, hasn't had a Sydney starter for six years but is considering sending brilliant three-year-old filly January, winner of the Listed Churchill Stakes in Ireland and a four-time Group 1 placegetter including her most recent starts in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket and Prix Rothschild at Deauville. January will be recognised as a four-year-old by southern hemisphere time this spring making her eligible for the Golden Eagle. 'I spoke to Aidan O'Brien when I was at Goodwood and he told me he was very keen to have a Golden Eagle runner,'' Ramdhani said. 'January then ran very well at Deauville where she finished second and, in fact, should have won. 'Nothing has been confirmed yet but the O'Brien stable has made inquiries about the Golden Eagle.'' Luther, trained in England by Charlie Fellowes, is also likely to be aimed at the Golden Eagle after he won the Group 2 Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga earlier this month. • Baker's pair to give Spring Preview as trainer eyes Winx Stakes Fellowes prepared Prince Of Arran to finish in the minor placings in three successive Melbourne Cups in 2018-19-20. Japan's Panja Tower and England's Seagulls Eleven are confirmed Golden Eagle runners. English maestro William Haggas hasn't locked in his Sydney spring team but is considering sending Lake Forest back down under for the King Charles III Stakes. Haggas also has talented stayer Sam Hawkens as a likely St Leger runner and the trainer hasn't ruled out again targeting the Golden Eagle. 'We've got up to four international Golden Eagle runners now and we could get some more after the York carnival in England next week,'' Ramdhani said.
