The Everest: Ka Ying Rising lands in Sydney to defend his crown
The Hong Kong champion arrived on 21 September, a short-priced favourite for the $20 million sprint at Randwick on 17 October.
The Everest, first run in 2017, is run over 1200 metres at Royal Randwick for about $20 million, with $7 million to the winner. Twelve slots are sold for $700,000 each; holders race their own horse or lease the place.
The favourite has arrived. Ka Ying Rising, trained by David Hayes and ridden by Zac Purton, landed on 21 September and began two weeks of quarantine at Canterbury. He is due to trial at Randwick on 6 October, bidding to become the first overseas horse to win the race twice. He carries a Longines rating of 135, the highest recorded for a sprinter.
The first local. Michael Freedman’s Ninja was the first runner confirmed, in John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds slot.
Nominations close on 12 October and the field is confirmed two days later. Past winners: Ka Ying Rising (2025), Bella Nipotina (2024), Think About It (2023).
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