Ka Ying still has a mountain to scale

Image: Ka Ying Rising (Credit: HKJC)

There is some top-class action across multiple tracks in both Australia and New Zealand this weekend, but without doubt many eyes will be on Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) on Sunday when David Hayes’ world-leading sprinter returns in the Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (Gr 3, 1200m) at Sha Tin.

Now the winner of his last 20 starts, the six-year-old gelding made a winning return in the Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap last year when it was run as a non-stakes race, scoring easily by two and a quarter lengths despite giving upwards of nine pounds (4kg) to his 11 rivals.

With the race now being run as a Group 3 in 2026, the World’s Best Sprinter had bruising on his left hind foot that momentarily threw his preparation into doubt, however Hayes revealed all has been resolved on that front.

“I think he kicked his concrete feed bin, and bruised his hind foot,” Hayes said on Thursday.

“He was definitely sore on Monday. But Tuesday, Wednesday and today he’s been perfect. He’s had Doppler scans, CT scans and an X-ray, so he’s totally clear.

“If he wasn’t right, I wasn’t going to run him. I was shattered on Monday morning, but I’m very happy today. This horse, I can assure punters, will be fine at the weekend.”

Having taken out four Group 1s during an eight-start unbeaten campaign in 2024-25, the fact that Ka Ying Rising returned in even better form and condition during 2025-26 was remarkable.

The son of Windsor Park Stud’s Shamexpress (O’Reilly) racked up five top-level sprints during his most recent campaign, including Randwick’s The Everest (Gr 1, 1200m) in which he defeated the then three-year-old filly Tempted (Street Boss) by a length and a quarter eased down.

That $20 million showpiece is the main aim again for Hayes this season and, the worrying thing for Australians is that the trainer feels last year’s Everest success was visually his worst of the season. 

“Visually, [The Everest] was his worst performance of the season, but he still won by a length-and-a-half, and didn’t have the whip on him,” a bullish Hayes said.

“I think this year, hopefully, Australians can see him at his best, and we’re doing everything we possibly can to have him at his best.”

Ka Ying Rising could well be on the hunt for Romantic Warrior’s (Acclamation) record prize-money haul for a thoroughbred. Although he is remarkably still over AU$20 million behind the recently retired champion on that front, he could easily have two or even three seasons left of sprinting triumphs.

To put into context where he lies in relation to Romantic Warrior, Ka Ying Rising accumulated around HK$68.94 million (approx. AU$12.2 million) during the 2025-26 season.

Currently, he sits on prize-money earnings of HK$158,571,900 (approx. AU$28.06 million) compared to Romantic Warrior’s incredible haul of HK$288,745,697 (approx. AU$51.1 million). 

So, in that case, another season of around HK$68.94 million in earnings, assuming connections follow the same path as last year, would see Ka Ying Rising move to within HK$61.23 million of Romantic Warrior in earnings, a number that would surely seem achievable via another dominant year on the track.

Of course, that means Ka Ying Rising would need to go unbeaten for another 16 starts, overtake Winx’s (Street Cry) unbelievable 33-win streak and provide dual Hong Kong Champion Trainer Hayes with even more career-defining memories. A big ask you may say, and perhaps a reminder that for all the prizemoney on offer to top sprinters occasionally, there are often more riches and options for the mile to mile and a quarter horses. 

Ka Ying Rising completed an easy 400-metre gallop in 25.4s on the Sha Tin dirt on Thursday morning, and Hayes revealed he would have his gelding spot on for not only The Everest, but his pre-Everest trial this time around.

“He was really good. The riding boy certainly thought he was at the top of his game, so that’s always nice to hear,” Hayes said.

“I probably had him too fresh going into that trial [last year]. He got very stirred up with the big crowd all going to see him. 

“I think this year he’ll have just a little bit more work, and he won’t be as fizzy. And, hopefully, he won’t have all the problems after the trial that we had with the perception that he was not right.”

One man that will be with the champion sprinter every step of the way is Zac Purton, who is of the opinion that Ka Ying Rising has returned even better once again.

“He’s a bigger, heavier, stronger horse now than what he was back then,” Purton said. 

“We’ve seen that when he went to Australia, he developed down there, and he continued to get bigger and stronger as the season went on. And it was a good sign that he got even bigger in Conghua when he had that break.

“He does look like a much stronger horse, definitely than what he was 12 months ago, but even from what he was at the end of last season. He could go well for another good season, hopefully.”

The 12 slot holders for the 2026 The Everest are as follows; Inglis, Newgate & GPI Racing, Chris Waller Racing, Mulberry Racing, Coolmore, Fairway Thoroughbreds, James Harron, Max Whitby & Steve McCann & Col Madden & Neil Werrett, the TAB, Hong Kong Jockey Club/Australian Turf Club (Ka Ying Rising confirmed), Yulong Investments, and finally Godolphin.

And, although he has already secured a place in the field, Ka Ying Rising is not the only horse bidding to showcase his Everest credentials this weekend, Tempted returns for Godolphin and the Matthew Smith-trained Headwall (Dream Ahead) is set for his first-up run for 12 months.

Having narrowly taken out the Concorde Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) last year, the son of Dream Ahead (Diktat) was then being touted for a crack at The Everest the following month but sustained an injury to his near hind leg that ruled him out of the spring altogether.

Now returning for the first time since his Concorde victory in 2025, Warwick Farm-based trainer Smith has given his eight-year-old four trials prior to Saturday’s return at Randwick.

“It’s one of the tough parts about training because everyone has expectations,” Smith told Racing NSW.

“The owners have expectations, the strapper has and the work rider, everyone is keen to see what he’s going to do.

“I didn’t think about [whether he’d run his last race]. I just gave him the time and hoped he would be right.

“Every day when you watch them gallop you’re worried about something happening. You’re waiting for the phone call, but that’s every horse. It’s just the better ones you’re more focused on.”

Headwall has already run close placings in both the 2025 editions of the Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m) and T J Smith Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), and Smith feels he could well grab that Group 1 win this season with a slice of luck. Headwall is the second foal and only stakes winner to date out of Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice) mare Positive Quest.

“He’s such a promising horse so it’s tough when it happens [injuries], hopefully he can stay sound with a bit of luck and show us what he can do,” Smith added.

“He’s a Group 1 horse and we want to knock one over.”

Following this weekend’s Group 3 Concorde, Smith revealed that Headwall would head for The Shorts (Gr 2, 1100m) back at Randwick on September 19, a race in which the winner has almost always subsequently turned up in The Everest.

Since The Everest’s inaugural running in 2017, Redzel (Snitzel), Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt), Eduardo (Host), Nature Strip (Nicconi), Private Eye (Al Maher), I Am Me (I Am Invincible), and Joliestar (Zoustar) have all won The Shorts before lining up in the slotholder sprint the same season.

Of those seven, Redzel and Classique Legend went on to land The Everest, meaning Headwall’s potential run in The Shorts could well be his key to a place in the coveted line-up.

“It’s better than having a rushed preparation, I’d rather take my time and let him tick over and gradually get him fit,’’ he said.

“He should be somewhere thereabouts, based on last year’s race and his form prior to that. I don’t see why he won’t run well. I don’t have any massive expectations, I’m not going there thinking he’s just going to win or anything like that, I just think he will run very well.”

“I like where he’s drawn, Randwick is a big track with plenty of room. I think he should be able to land midfield, it’s a lovely draw for him. He’ll go to the Shorts and then we’ll know where we are going.”