Champion jockey Zac Purton has declared Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising “needs to improve” to win The Everest after his barrier trial at Randwick on Tuesday.
Ka Ying Rising, who is into $1.50 for the $20 million sprint, sat wide and finished third behind Linebacker and Overpass in the trial and came back having a good blow on an unprecedented morning at Randwick.
“You could see it in the tie-up stalls he didn’t handle it very well and ran his trial before we got out there,” Purton said.
“He was sweating between his legs and needed that.
“He will come on from it but he needs to improve. He will need to be much batter on raceday.”
1⃣ Linebacker
2⃣ Overpass
3⃣ Ka Ying RisingAll eyes were on the @HKJC_Racing champion in his first Australian appearance in a Randwick trial on Tuesday. @zacpurton1 didn’t let him go in third. Also trialling were Fangirl, Joliestar, Mr Brightside & Angel Capital @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/MrodwgpozN
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 6, 2025
Ka Ying Rising’s trainer David Hayes said the trial was part of the plan and he got what he expected on the track, but not off it.
“I have never seen so many people come out for one horse in Australia,” Hayes said. “That really surprised me.
“He hasn’t seen another horse for six weeks on the track, so that is going to help and is why we were here.
“There is improvement left in him, and he will have another gallop next Monday.
“You could see that helped him a lot.”
Hayes will stay in Australia for the next fortnight leading into the Everest and visit Lindsay Park and his new granddaughter.
There are more people in the theatre of the horse than an average Saturday #kaying #theeverest pic.twitter.com/0itijacAzt
— Chris Roots (@ChrisRoots1) October 6, 2025
