Ka Ying Rising recovers well from The Everest, continues LONGINES Hong Kong International Races preparations

By Leo Schlink

Ka Ying Rising has pulled up well following defeat in the G1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia on Saturday (17 October) and will continue a familiar preparation for the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races.

The world’s top-rated horse is scheduled to depart Sydney today (Monday, 19 October) and will re-enter quarantine at Sha Tin for the next two weeks, ahead of the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on 22 November before he chases a third victory in the HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on 13 December at Sha Tin.

“He’s pulled up fine,” trainer David Hayes said. “It’s such a shame to see a champion get beaten. He seemed to race in patches on Saturday, but he was very brave, and I think he would have won in a few more strides.

“He’s coming back to Hong Kong and will go into quarantine and have an easy week there with some trotting and cantering in the dressage ring.

“In the second week of quarantine, he’ll be back on the track, and then he’ll come back to my stables.

“It’s only early in the season. He’s got a big season ahead and I’m looking forward to getting him back home. It was tough seeing him lose in the way he did, but he’ll bounce back.”

Tempted ended Ka Ying Rising’s Hong Kong record winning streak of 21 races in The Everest under an inspired ride by Chad Schofield, denying the Hong Kong champion, who fell short by half a neck on a yielding track after covering ground.

Hayes reiterated post-race that Ka Ying Rising’s main objectives for the season remain the HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on 13 December and the HK$24 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) on 25 April.