Photo Hong Kong Jockey Club
Hong Kong’s superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising’s (NZ) (Shamexpress) defence of his Gr.1 $20 million The TAB Everest title begins in earnest when the champion contests a crucial barrier trial at Sha Tin on Friday.
Ka Ying Rising is on a 20-race winning streak and was simply untouchable in eight starts last season, seemingly breaking track records for fun.
He has retained his ranking as the world's number-one ranked racehorse alongside England's Ombudsman.
But when Hayes returned to Hong Kong from a European holiday late last week he inspected Ka Ying Rising at his Sha Tin stables and was taken aback by how much stronger the gelding is compared to when last in work.
"He was consistently around 1160 pounds last season over the Everest period,'' Hayes said.
"But the other day he weighed in at 1189 pounds which is after a spell, and that says to me he's still developing.
"I think he'll race at around 1165, so he's a bigger, stronger horse.
"So, dare I say, normally when sprinters get bigger they get better.
"Every time he's gone up in weight he runs faster times. His last four starts he's beaten four track records.''
Ka Ying Rising goes back to the barrier trials on Friday with Hayes keen to follow closely the same blueprint which gave the Hong Kong champion a famous The Everest win at Royal Randwick last spring.
Hayes intends giving Ka Ying Rising two barrier trial hit-outs then a comeback run at Sha Tin in early September before leaving for Sydney.
Photo: Hong Kong Jockey Club
But Hayes made the startling admission Ka Ying Rising's Everest win was his least impressive of the season with the trainer admitting he has learned the lessons from last year and will tinker with the champion's preparation in Sydney this spring.
Ka Ying Rising was beaten in a Randwick barrier trial a week before The Everest and looked so lack-lustre, rumours started that all was not well with the champion.
Hayes was bemused as the rumour mill spun out of control with some reports Ka Ying Rising would be withdrawn from The Everest.
For the first time, Hayes has explained what really happened in Sydney last spring.
"He was so impressive at his first run (in Hong Kong) and after the first run I thought I just need to hold his form and not do anything too clever and he'll win down there (Sydney), which he did,'' Hayes told Racing And Sports.
"But it was probably his least impressive performance for the season.
"It's silly saying that in an Everest, which he won pretty well but he just didn't do what he's done in some of the other races.
"So, I'm going to work him just that little fraction harder going into the trial at Randwick.
"I was very easy on him before the (Randwick) trial. He went there far too fresh and melted and didn't trial very well.
"But that brought him on and with a gallop after it, he was ready to go for the Everest.
"This year I might have him a little bit more wound up for the trial.''
But Ka Ying Rising's connections are being courted by racing jurisdictions around the world, particularly Royal Ascot, who want the champion sprinter at their feature racing carnivals.
Hayes was lukewarm on changing too much with Ka Ying Rising during 2026-27 as he hopes to extend the champion's race career for another two or three years at least.
"After the (Hong Kong) International meeting he'll go for the (Hong Kong sprint) triple crown again, which he's won the last three seasons,'' the trainer said.
"And after that there'll be a decision made whether he has another rest 'cause it's working so well when he has a rest, and that won't be good for Ascot if he's resting.
"But the decision is not about the owner or the money or anything which has been reported. It's all about the horse.
"When you've got one this good, they deserve a rest and you just have to treat them very cautiously because every year he races is precious.
"If we can keep him going for another couple of seasons, I'd hate to think what he could earn for the connections and how many Group 1 races (he can add) on his tally list.
"He' just six and hasn't lost for three years so we're not 'gonna' change too much but the time we'll make a decision about what his program is it'd probably be midway through next season.
"By February, March, we'll make plans to see whether he's just 'gonna' do the same again, which is pretty good.
"He's averaging $1.2 million Aussie a race, what he's doing at the moment, so there's not a financial reason to change anything.''
