Ka Ying Rising Lands in Sydney for the Everest 2026
The defending champion arrived in Australia on Tuesday, weighing five kilograms less after a 16-hour flight from Hong Kong.
Key points
- Ka Ying Rising arrived in Sydney on Tuesday after a 16-hour flight from Hong Kong, losing five kilograms during the journey.
- Joliestar climbed one spot in the rankings after a strong finish in The Shorts, while Tempted remains the top local mare.
- Three top contenders are entered in the Manikato Stakes in Melbourne, serving as a key test before The Everest.
Ka Ying Rising walked onto an Australian racetrack on Tuesday morning. The six-year-old gelding had just completed a 16-hour journey from Sha Tin to Canterbury Park. He lost five kilograms during the trip, a deliberate weight cut before his return to Sydney for The Everest.
Trainer David Hayes described the horse as conservatively ten percent better than last year. The champion is now in the country, having pranced through two and a half laps in 26 minutes. He will trial at Randwick on October 6, with his next race set for October 17.
Local rivals assert themselves
The domestic field shook up the rankings over the weekend. Joliestar surged up one spot after a sharp performance in The Shorts. She was beaten by a neck to Mazu but covered ground consistently. James McDonald praised her ability to hit the line well, noting her consistent form.
Tempted remains untested but stands clear as the best local mare. Her only run before The Everest is the Premiere Stakes on October 3. This race serves as the final audition for the field, with three other horses already confirmed for the big event.
Melbourne tests the sprinters
Metro racing shifts to Sunday in Melbourne for the Group 1 Manikato Stakes. Three of the top-twelve challengers are entered in the 1200-meter race. Beiwacht, Jimmysstar, and Oliveanotherday will face defending champion Charm Stone, who is resuming after a break.
My Gladiola, the Moir Stakes winner, also enters the line. She is joined by Napoleonic and Giga Kick. Extragalactic, a mare trained by Trent Edmonds, will be ridden by James McDonald. These results will further clarify the shape of the field heading into the major weekend.
Champion arrives with confidence
Hayes believes the opposition must improve significantly to catch his star. He noted that Ka Ying Rising has not lost form, despite the travel. The horse is heavier than last year, a positive sign for his stamina and strength on the track.
The race is shaping as a duel between the imported champion and the local best. With three and a half weeks to run, the field is filling quickly. The Premiere Stakes will be the last meaningful chance for others to secure a spot in this high-stakes contest.
