By Dane McLeod/TTRAusNZ
Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) finished a close-up third in his pre-Everest trial at Randwick on Tuesday, with the world's champion sprinter cruising into the minor placing under a hold behind the G1 Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker (Super Seth) and A$10.5-million earner and dual Group 1-winning sprinter Overpass (Vancouver).
Plenty in the crowd were keen to catch their first glimpse of the outstanding Hong Kong sprinter, who enjoyed the strong hit-out and clocked a fast time ahead of the A$20 million feature Saturday week. The line-up was stacked with quality equine talent with big targets ahead in the coming weeks, with the 10-time Group 1 winner and G1 King Charles III Stakes hopeful Mr Brightside (Bullbars) finishing just under five lengths behind the winner in fourth.
Jockey Zac Purton gave his immediate reaction to SENTrack following the trial, where Ka Ying Rising was held together but asked to extend his work past the line for fitness.
“He hasn't had a run for a month and he hasn't done too much serious work in that amount of time, so it was the first time he's done anything competitive in a while,” said Purton.
“The track was a little bit soft for him. He's not totally at home on that ground, but I thought he trialled well enough. I was hoping he would have changed his leg. He didn't, but that's him.”
When asked whether there were any concerns heading into The Everest, Purton added, “No, I think he'll come on a bit from that. Obviously, it's going to be a competitive race. The horses in Australia are peaking at the right time, so hopefully we can draw a good gate and get a dry track. It's going to be a good race to watch, isn't it?”
Welcome to Randwick, KA YING RISING! 🏔️
The Hong Kong superstar has his first trial in Australia alongside his @tabcomau Everest rivals and finishes nicely! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/iT5OmtV9HC
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 6, 2025
Trainer David Hayes echoed the belief that the gelding would take significant benefit from the trial.
He said, “It was a good solid trial, but he did need it. He blew a few cobwebs out and he'll really come on a lot for that. He'll have a nice gallop on Monday and he'll be right for the big one. He's about 20 pounds above his racing weight and I'll expect it [his weight] to come down a bit in the next week.”
When asked about Ka Ying Rising's behaviour in the parade ring, where he appeared a touch hot and was having a good look around, Hayes added, “At Sha Tin he gets very edgy in the mornings going through the tunnels with all the horses, and when Zac – or whoever is riding him – drops over his neck, he relaxes straight away.
“I think that was a bit typical of Ka Ying today. He will be better on race day, but he'll have to be, because there's going to be 50,000 people here. He really needed a dress rehearsal, he was a bit fresh in the pre-parade. It's been a big help for him.”
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