Top-ranked sprinter Ka Ying Rising delivers in The Everest

He came, he gave us all a fright, and then he conquered.

Ka Ying Rising showed Sydney why he is the world’s top-ranked sprinter Saturday at Randwick with a show-stopping victory in the Group 1, US$13 million running of The Everest, the world’s richest turf race.

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For trainer David Hayes it was mission accomplished and the end of “the longest 10 days of my life” as he had to endure a lot of rumor and speculation about the horse’s fitness during the past week.

His view of Ka Ying Rising was vindicated when the New Zealand-bred, 5-year-old Shamexpress gelding took over early in the straight and held on by 1 1/4 lengths over Godolphin filly Tempted in second and Jimmysstar in third, both trained by Ciaron Maher.

“It’s a long straight when you hit the front with 300 meters to go, but I think he held on pretty well,’’ Hayes said. “I would have been shattered if he lost today, truth be known, when he was calm an hour before the race. There was no sweat between his legs and was absolutely perfect. That made me feel quietly confident.”

As he reflected on the past two weeks, Hayes said the dress rehearsal Ka Ying Rising had Oct. 7 was instrumental in securing his win in The Everest.

While the trial defeat was heavily scrutinized, Hayes said it served its purpose, and the evidence was there for all to see as Ka Ying Rising held a high-class group of sprinters at bay.

“He blew out all the mothballs, and a lot of people were very critical of the trial, but he still beat 20 Group 1 winners and ran third not really tested,’’ Hayes said. “(Australia Hall of Fame gelding Better Loosen Up) was the last world champion-rated horse I’ve trained, and this is the next one. A lot of good horses in between, but these are the two stars.”

Hayes competed in the first two editions of The Everest, running second in 2017 with Vega Magic, and he said he will bring Ka Ying Rising back in 2026 to defend the title.

Ka Ying Rising carried the hopes of Hong Kong since he carried his four Group 1 wins from there to Sydney last month. Hayes said the weight of expectation can be lifted now he got the job done.

“I think it will be wonderful (for Hong Kong racing). He’s the pin-up boy there,’’ Hayes said.

Jockey Zac Purton said the race could not have panned out better for Ka Ying Rising. After jumping well he was able to slide forward as Overpass came across to sit outside Mazu, and that duo did not get along quite as fast as expected.

From there it was a matter of going through the motions for Purton.

“He had a beautiful run in the race,” he said. “Ethan (Brown on Jimmysstar) was trying to sneak up on my outside, but we just had to make sure we had the room, which was pretty easy, because we had the room, which was pretty easy because of the pace of the race.”

“Overpass skipped for him early, and I had to chase him. To my horse’s credit, he wasn’t letting him go. He got the better of me in the trial, and we said that he’s not going to get the better of me in the race. We chased him down and coasted to the line.”

The winning time was 1:08.13 without a run-up going right-handed and covering 1,200 meters, eight yards less than six furlongs, on good-rated turf.

In the World Pool, Ka Ying Rising paid $3.70, $2.40 and $2.10; Tempted $11.50 and $8.10; and Jimmystar $7.20.

The scary thing is that Purton said that the Ka Ying Rising who he knows in Hong Kong is a lot better than the version who won The Everest.

“I don’t think we saw him at his best today,” Purton said, “but even though he wasn’t at his best he’s still good enough.”

“I think there’s more to come from this horse,” Hayes said, “and it’s certainly the biggest thrill of my life.”

Coverage of Randwick for Horse Racing Nation is made possible in part through a sponsorship by Sky Racing World.