Ka Ying Rising is preparing to leave Hong Kong for Sydney after completing the first stage of quarantine, with the world’s highest-rated racehorse attempting to become only the second dual winner of The Everest.
The defending champion entered quarantine at Sha Tin immediately after extending his extraordinary winning sequence to 21 races in the Group 3 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup.
He is expected to fly to Australia after completing the Hong Kong component of his quarantine requirements before continuing his preparation at Canterbury Park.
The journey will carry considerably less uncertainty than Ka Ying Rising’s first trip to Australia.
Trainer David Hayes has already successfully transported the champion between Hong Kong and Sydney, discovered how he responds to Canterbury’s quarantine environment and learnt from the fitness concerns that surrounded his 2025 campaign.
Racenet reports the precious cargo is almost ready to take flight.
Everything Ka Ying Rising has produced this season suggests he will arrive even harder to defeat.
“He just takes everything in his stride,” Hayes said after the gelding’s record-breaking return, according to the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Ka Ying Rising Entered Quarantine After Record-Breaking Win
Ka Ying Rising could hardly have produced a more intimidating final Hong Kong performance before travelling.
Carrying 61 kilograms, the six-year-old won the Chief Executive’s Cup by seven-and-three-quarter lengths at Sha Tin.
His time of 1:06.11 destroyed his own 1200-metre course record by almost a second.
The victory improved Ka Ying Rising’s overall record to 22 wins and two seconds from 24 starts, with his winning sequence stretching back almost three years.
He has now broken the Sha Tin 1200-metre record five times.
Copartner Prance finished second despite receiving nine kilograms from the winner, while Magic Control was another length-and-a-half behind in third.
Hayes revealed that Ka Ying Rising had spent several hours undergoing veterinary examinations only days before the race after suffering bruising to a hind leg.
The gelding underwent CT and Doppler scans while sedated before recovering sufficiently to produce one of the most dominant performances of his career.
There was no indication during the race that the interruption had affected him.
Ka Ying Rising led, controlled a relentless tempo and continued extending his advantage when Zac Purton allowed him to run through the line.
He entered quarantine less than two hours later.
That rapid transition was planned carefully to ensure he could complete the required isolation period and travel to Sydney with enough time to acclimatise before The Everest.
Hayes Believes the Champion Has Improved Again
The greatest concern for Ka Ying Rising’s rivals is that Hayes does not believe the defending champion has merely maintained his form.
He believes the gelding has physically improved.
Ka Ying Rising returned from his spell heavier and more developed than he was during the previous season.
Hayes said the sprinter was 29 pounds heavier than when recording his previous best time and approximately nine pounds above his ideal racing weight.
Despite carrying the additional condition and top weight, he produced the fastest 1200 metres ever recorded at Sha Tin.
“He’s got bigger, stronger and better,” Hayes said.
Purton shared that assessment.
The champion jockey explained that Ka Ying Rising’s increased size did not mean he had returned overweight. Instead, he had developed physically and appeared stronger throughout his body.
The Chief Executive’s Cup was also his first race since winning the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize in April.
Hayes and Purton therefore expect some natural improvement as his fitness rises through the preparation.
That is a daunting prospect for the Australian sprinters attempting to dethrone him.
Ka Ying Rising won the 2025 Everest despite Hayes later describing the performance as one of his least visually impressive efforts of the season.
If he arrives fitter, stronger and more experienced in 2026, the defending champion could produce a considerably better performance at Randwick.
Last Year’s Travel Experience Removes a Major Unknown
International travel introduces risks that do not affect locally trained horses.
A horse must handle flights, isolation, changes in feed and water, unfamiliar stabling, altered training facilities and a different daily routine.
Hayes approached Ka Ying Rising’s first Australian campaign cautiously because he did not know how the gelding would respond.
The champion handled the journey impressively and settled at Canterbury, but Hayes now believes he was too conservative with the horse’s training after arriving.
Ka Ying Rising appeared flat when beaten in a public barrier trial at Randwick before the 2025 Everest.
The performance created intense speculation about his fitness and prompted claims that he could be withdrawn.
Hayes and Purton responded by increasing his workload during the final days before the race.
The adjustment worked.
Ka Ying Rising defeated Tempted and Jimmysstar in the $20 million sprint, running 1:08.13 over the Randwick 1200 metres.
Hayes now knows the gelding can cope with the journey and thrive at Canterbury.
He intends to give Ka Ying Rising a stronger foundation before his Australian trial rather than allowing him to arrive too fresh.
The trainer told the Hong Kong Jockey Club he had “no fears” surrounding the Canterbury environment because the horse had handled it so effectively during his first visit.
That experience could prove as important as Ka Ying Rising’s physical development.
The defending champion is not entering unfamiliar conditions.
He is returning to a routine that has already produced an Everest victory.
Randwick Trial Will Be Closely Watched
Ka Ying Rising is expected to trial at Randwick before The Everest, giving Australian punters their first opportunity to assess how he has travelled.
The result should not be treated as decisive.
Last season demonstrated that a quiet barrier trial can help a horse progress towards its main target rather than revealing its true race-day ability.
Hayes will be interested in how Ka Ying Rising handles the surface, responds to Purton and recovers from the hit-out.
The trainer has already indicated he will prepare the sprinter more aggressively before the trial than he did in 2025.
That could produce a considerably sharper performance.
However, Ka Ying Rising does not need to win the trial impressively to remain the horse to beat.
His recovery, action and behaviour will matter more than the official finishing order.
The experience should also prevent a repeat of the uncertainty that surrounded last year’s preparation.
Hayes understands precisely how much work the horse required after his previous trial and can adjust his training accordingly.
Everest Rivals Must Find Another Level
Ka Ying Rising’s arrival will place every Australian contender under immediate pressure.
Tempted and Jimmysstar chased him home in 2025, while Overpass and Joliestar were also unable to match the Hong Kong champion.
The 2026 field is still developing, with slot holders assessing established Group 1 sprinters and emerging horses throughout the spring.
Pembrey had been discussed as a potential challenger before trainer Tony Gollan indicated the colt was unlikely to contest the race, as examined in The Sporting Base’s report on Pembrey’s revised spring campaign.
Autumn Glow was also considered before connections decided to keep the champion mare at longer distances.
Owner John Messara admitted he had “wanted to try and beat Ka Ying Rising” before rejecting The Everest.
Those decisions demonstrate the effect Ka Ying Rising has already had upon the race.
Slot holders must decide whether to select proven sprinters capable of absorbing his pressure or younger horses with enough upside to produce a career-best performance.
Allowing Ka Ying Rising to control the race from the front would be dangerous.
Attempting to challenge him early could be even worse.
His Sha Tin return showed he can maintain an extraordinary speed through the middle of a race and continue running strongly through the finish.
Rivals cannot merely match his closing section.
They must survive the tempo he creates before attempting to outsprint him.
History Awaits at Royal Randwick
Redzel remains the only horse to win consecutive editions of The Everest, having claimed the inaugural race in 2017 before defending his title in 2018.
Ka Ying Rising will attempt to join him at Royal Randwick on October 17.
The race will again be conducted over 1200 metres under weight-for-age conditions and carry $20 million in prizemoney.
Ka Ying Rising will receive no concession for travelling internationally or carrying the pressure attached to being the defending champion.
He will not need one.
The gelding has developed into the most dominant sprinter in world racing, winning major races over 1200 and 1400 metres while repeatedly lowering records at Sha Tin.
His success has already encouraged ambitious proposals for future international contests, including a potential match race against Autumn Glow and Sheza Alibi.
Those possibilities can wait.
The immediate challenge is safely completing the journey to Sydney, settling at Canterbury and reproducing his best performance at Randwick.
International travel always introduces uncertainty.
A horse cannot explain how a flight has affected him, and even minor changes in routine can become important during an elite sprint.
However, Ka Ying Rising has already completed this journey and won.
He is returning older, stronger and carrying the experience of a champion who understands precisely what awaits him.
Australia’s best sprinters have one month to prepare for his arrival.
The precious cargo is almost ready for take-off.
