Hayes believes Ka Ying Rising is in peak form for Everest defence

Legendary trainer David Hayes is confident that Hong Kong sensation Ka Ying Rising is a more formidable sprinter now than when he last competed in Sydney, ahead of his attempt to secure a second consecutive Group 1 $20 million TAB Everest title at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

"Ka Ying Rising is a freak of nature, he's a generational horse,'' Hayes remarked. "Five times in a row he's broken the track record, I've never seen that before, and his ratings tell you he's a better horse now than when he was here 12 months ago." "I never thought I would see a sprinter as good as Black Caviar until this horse came along. "So, he's in rare air at the moment. You can have your opinion who's better, that's not the point, but he's as good as her anyway I think."

Following his final intense workout for The Everest at Canterbury this morning, Hayes stated that the world's highest-rated racehorse has undergone an ideal preparation. Even the variable of Sydney's notoriously fickle spring weather poses no concern for Hayes as the major race approaches.

Randwick currently holds a good 4 rating and is in pristine condition for The Everest meeting, though forecasts indicate rain on Tuesday and again on Friday and Saturday.

"The Hong Kong wet track is a bit different to the Australian wet track,'' Hayes commented. "The grass is a bit tighter in Hong Kong and he has a daisy cutting action. "I know Zac (Purton, jockey), has a query on an Aussie 'wet', I don't. I'm not worried. "I think the other day Zac thought he laboured a little bit in the (barrier) trial but I think that was fitness and having a good look around, not being asked, not being pushed, and it was his first hit-out in five weeks. "Also, I remember when I bought this horse I saw him a win a trial on heavy ground in Australia. It was only a trial but he looked pretty good, so I bought him. "The way I read Saturday is we probably need to have a bad day and they need to have a very good day to beat him.''

Ka Ying Rising covered 1000m at pace on the Canterbury course proper early this morning, accelerating from the 600m marker. His final sectional was timed at 36.5 seconds, with a 400m split of 24 seconds recorded.

"He had a nice, long, easy canter to warm up and then he quickened from the 600m and was rolling down the straight,'' Hayes observed. "I'm not sure if the times are right but we got him at 36.5s, the 'riding boy' was very happy with him and what I was particularly happy with was the recovery. "His recovery was excellent, he's in a great space, he's lost 10 pounds since the trial and we are really happy with him. "What the trial has done has got him back into game day mode and brought him on beautifully and that was his strongest piece.''

Hayes indicated that Ka Ying Rising will have a light workload for the remainder of the week leading up to The Everest, where he is the strong $1.35 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds. The crucial Everest barrier draw is scheduled for tomorrow night, but Hayes suggested it is unlikely to be a significant factor given Ka Ying Rising's exceptional gate speed.

"He's won from the inside, the middle, the outside. He gets the job done. He's done it 21 times in a row,'' he stated. "Obviously closer to the rail is better but I wouldn't be in a panic if he drew wide, he's so fast."

Hayes identified the "big three" rivals for Ka Ying Rising in The Everest as Tempted, Joliestar, and Jimmysstar.

"Tempted is obvious, she's outstanding and she's brilliant at the track and in the conditions,'' Hayes said. "Joliestar's trial was excellent behind him (Ka Ying Rising) the other day and she has returned from racing very well at Royal Ascot. "I also like Jimmysstar if it is a hard run race. The blinkers seem to have switched him back on.''

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