Ka Ying Rising Goes for 22 Straight, Turf May Be Heavy

Royal Randwick racecourse has received around 100mm of rain this week, twice the forecast amount, leaving the track rated ‘heavy’ ahead of Saturday’s The Everest and raising questions about the conditions for hot favourite KA YING RISING.

Track manager Michael Wood expects the surface to remain very soft on race day, even if the forecast sunshine and wind arrive on Friday. The latest assessment leaves connections facing the prospect of another testing assignment on ground that could prove particularly demanding for horses who prefer a firmer surface.

Ka Ying Rising has eased in the betting from $1.30 to $1.50 as bookmakers reassess his prospects. Trainer David Hayes has indicated that he would be more comfortable with Soft conditions than a Heavy track, making the state of the Randwick surface an important consideration ahead of the sprint.

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Tempted presents a contrasting profile on the available going evidence. The unbeaten four-start record on Soft ground gives her a positive reference point should conditions remain testing, and she has drawn barrier one.

With further weather conditions still to play their part, the track assessment will remain central to the Everest discussion. The key question is whether Randwick can improve sufficiently before Saturday or whether the Heavy rating will continue to shape the market.

From Turf Diario.com: Ka Ying Rising is one victory away from extending his extraordinary streak to 22 consecutive wins—an unprecedented milestone for a Hong Kong horse. The challenge arrives this Saturday in The Everest (G1-1200 m), the richest turf race on the planet, to be contested at Randwick with a purse of A20million(approximatelyHK20million(approximatelyHK109.5 million).

The defending champion, considered one of the top sprinters in the world, will attempt to replicate the dominant victory he achieved in the 2025 edition, once again with Zac Purton in the irons and under the care of trainer David Hayes. However, two primary factors have drawn the focus of his camp: post position 11 and, most notably, the condition of the ground following heavy rainfall in Sydney over recent days.

Purton, a 9-time champion jockey in Hong Kong, believes that his starting stall does not pose as significant an obstacle as might be assumed.

“I don’t think the barrier is too bad. The one that will probably lead, Blue Door (Stay Inside), drawn just inside us, so hopefully we can come across with her and find a spot,” he explained.

The jockey also pointed out that turf conditions could alter the advantage of racing near the rails: “With the weather we’re having, maybe the inside won’t be the place to be. If that’s the case, our draw might actually help us.”

Much of Ka Ying Rising’s early strategy will depend on the actions of Blue Door, a speedy 3-year-old filly trained by Bjorn Baker who will break from stall 9.

Most pre-race analyses agree that Blue Door will look to seize the early lead, a scenario that could allow Purton to track her movement from the outside and secure a favorable position near the pace.

Baker confirmed he has no intention of altering his filly’s natural style: “We’re not going to change anything with her. She’s a very fast filly and we’re going to play to her main strengths,” he stated.

For Ka Ying Rising, matching that initial surge could prove decisive, particularly in an event where the opening furlongs are routinely contested at breakneck speed.

Regardless, Purton will delay finalizing his tactical plan until inspecting Randwick‘s condition firsthand on Saturday.

“We’ll figure it out on the day. First we’ll see how the track is, and hopefully the worst of the rain is behind us so the surface can keep drying out,” he noted.

The professional made his primary concern abundantly clear: “On a dry track we know exactly what he can do. On a wet track, we don’t know. That’s why I’d prefer it dry.”

He summarized his outlook with a straightforward assessment: “The barrier is fine. The most important thing is the state of the track.”