Having spent part of his illustrious riding career in Hong Kong, Darren Beadman is well positioned to understand the challenge Ka Ying Rising faces racing away from Sha Tin for the first time.
All of the champion sprinter’s 16 starts have been at the same track and his regular jockey Zac Purton indicated the unfamiliarity of Randwick and its different turf composition might have contributed to Ka Ying’s Rising’s barrier trial defeat on Tuesday.
Beadman spent four seasons competing in Hong Kong at the end of his decorated career in Australia and explained that while every circuit had its own idiosyncrasies, there were some fundamental differences between Sha Tin and Randwick.
“It’s a sandier profile at Randwick than say, Rosehill, and Sha Tin does have that degree of sand profile as well. Probably not as much as Happy Valley,” Beadman said.
“Then it’s also a bit more undulating. It’s not a billiard table like Sha Tin.
“He has been able to go to Canterbury, which is quite undulating so he has got a feel for all that.
“But good horses adapt to any circumstance.”
Having joined the Chris Waller team at the start of the season, Beadman will be hoping one of the stable’s three Everest runners – Lady Shenandoah, Joliestar and Angel Capital – can pick off the Hong Kong superstar.
Reluctant to weigh in with his opinion of Ka Ying Rising’s much talked about trial defeat, he said his focus was on Waller’s trio and getting them to next Saturday’s $20 million race in the best order possible.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion. All I know is that our three horses are good,” Beadman said.
While Joliestar and Angel Capital both trialled against Ka Ying Rising, Lady Shenandoah was given a solo hitout between races at Rosehill on Saturday, clocking a leisurely 1:06.84 for the 1000m, her final 600m in 36.83 seconds.
Beadman said there was “not an ounce of fat on her” and the gallop would have her spot-on for next weekend.
The mare didn’t adapt to Moonee Valley when fourth in the Manikato Stakes (1200m) last start but Beadman said she hadn’t missed a beat since returning home.
“She is doing better now than before she went down to Melbourne,” Beadman said.
“She is licking out the feed bin and she is spot-on.”
Kerrin Mcevoy partnered Lady Shenandoah in the exhibition gallop but will be aboard Jedibeel in The Everest (1200m) with jockeys for the Coolmore Classic winner and Joliestar yet to be confirmed.
It is expected James Mcdonald will be aboard one and Damian Lane the other with Ben Melham booked for Angel Capital.
