Ka Ying Rising has completed final preparations before travelling to Australia for a second tilt at the AU$20 million (approx. HK$111 million) G1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick Racecourse on 17 October after a faultless track gallop at Sha Tin on Friday morning (18 September).



Exercising pre-dawn on the turf course, the world`s highest-rated horse galloped over 1200m under the watchful eye of David Hayes, clocking 1m 21.70s and rounding off the work with a final 400m sectional of 22.6s.



Triumphant in his past 21 starts, including setting a Sha Tin track record of 1m 06.11s in the G3 HKSAR Chief Executive`s Cup Handicap (1200m) on 6 September, Ka Ying Rising delighted Hayes ahead of the champion`s departure on Sunday night (20 September) for Sydney, where he will attempt to win the world`s richest turf race for the second time.



“He galloped and he ran on well down the straight and he did it nicely, he did it all well – and his recovery was very good,” Hayes said. “He`s eating the food. He`s ready to go after his last piece of work.”



Ka Ying Rising will spend two weeks in quarantine at Canterbury Racecourse before trialling at Randwick Racecourse on Tuesday, 6 October. Retired stablemate Ka Ying Glory will travel to Australia with Ka Ying Rising as a companion.



Hayes hopes the preparation, which is a carbon copy of last season`s victorious raid, will again deliver the major spoils.



“He`s really in great shape. Probably ahead of last year, I would say,” Hayes said. “He doesn`t need another horse to work with in quarantine in Australia. Ka Ying Glory will go for company and they can eat together.”



Ka Ying Rising, the only foreign-trained horse to win The Everest, again runs in The Hong Kong Jockey Club`s The Everest slot.



Ridden by Zac Purton, Ka Ying Rising defeated Tempted and Jimmysstar in last year`s The Everest.



Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday (23 September).