When you walk into the Canterbury Quarantine Centre there is a lot more Ka Ying than you expect in the stables.
The superstar sprinter from Hong Kong, Ka Ying Rising, is there, and each morning he goes out and prepares for his $20 million date with destiny in the Everest on October 18.
But waiting for him back at home is Ka Ying Cheer, another Hong Kong winner, who is on a dining tour of Sydney.
“He is really the eating companion because we need to have another horse to keep Ka Ying Rising company.”
“He isn’t there for anything else other than to help make sure [Ka Ying Rising] eats. They get on well and have become good mates.”
“There would be no using him to work with Ka Ying Rising because he wouldn’t keep up, but he is still very important.”
Ka Ying Cheer was injured in Hong Kong earlier in the year and will head to the stable of Ben, Will and JD Hayes after completing his job in quarantine to restart his racing career in Australia.
Hayes has been happy with the way Ka Ying Rising has settled into Canterbury and he had his first real workout on Saturday morning.
“He did lose twenty-two pounds – if the scales are correct and they’re calibrated the same because the Hong Kong scales may be different,” Hayes said.
“But the most important thing is he’s eating his feed, he’s drinking and there’s a consistent weight in Australia.”
“I’m not concerned about his weight. He is carrying terrific condition.
“He will slowly pick up the work but he won’t go full bore until the barrier trial [at Randwick on October 7], you get a fair idea what he can do that day.”
“He got after in great shape it is about keeping him happy and we will have him ready to go in the trial.”
“He is going to have to be at his best for The Everest because we know Australian sprinters are the best in the world.”
Ka Ying Rising eased around Canterbury on Saturday morning before breezing up the straight. He will do the same work a couple of times this week before the barrier trial, which will be his main hitout before The Everest.
