Superstar Hong Kong sprinter Ka Ying Rising, the odds-on favourite for this year’s The Everest, has arrived safely in Sydney.
The David Hayes-trained speedster touched down mid-morning on Monday in what was the biggest step in his quest towards the $20 million sprint at Randwick on October 18.
The son of Shamexpress reportedly travelled well and Australian Turf Club racing manager Nevesh Ramdhani said it was a coup to have Hong Kong’s best horse in town for the Spring Carnival.
“Absolutely, the ratings on this horse after his 13 wins have just been incredible,” Ramdhani said.
“In the 10 years we’ve been doing it, I can’t remember another horse that has been rated as highly as he has.
“It’s also building on the relationship we already have with the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
“That’s also a very important component of why we did it, to build and strengthen relationships between Sydney racing and Hong Kong.”
Ka Ying Rising landed in Sydney a winner of 14 of his 16 starts, with two narrow second placings, and he has not been beaten since January last year.
The five-year-old is the highest-rated sprinter, and one of the highest-rated gallopers in the world, with a peak Racing And Sports Rating of 132.
To put that into perspective, Via Sistina ran a 132 rating in last year’s Cox Plate romp, while Black Caviar and Winx retired with peak figures of 136 and 134 respectively.
Shortly after arriving, he was transported to the Canterbury Quarantine Facility where he will serve his two-week isolation period before ramping up preparations for The Everest with a Randwick trial on October 7.
Ka Ying Rising is the first of a number of international gallopers who will descend on Sydney this week with last year’s Golden Eagle winner Lake Forest and Sam Hawkens to arrive on Tuesday.
Their stablemate Bullet Point is also coming, scheduled to land on October 14, in the same shipment as Panja Tower, Seagulls Eleven and Luther.
