• Top 2 – No. 1 Ka Ying Rising
• Top 3 – No. 2 Briasa
• Top 4 – No. 12 Tempted

KA YING RISING (7) is the Hong Kong sprinting machine everyone’s talking about — and with 14 wins from 16 starts, it’s easy to see why he’s the Everest favourite. Trained by David Hayes and ridden by Zac Purton, this four-time Group 1 winner has dominated the 1200m scene overseas and arrives in Sydney with serious form, including a crushing win at Sha Tin last start under 61kg. There’s been some noise about his condition since landing, but Hayes has shut that down and says the horse is spot-on. Barrier seven looks perfect, and with his record, speed, and class, it’s hard to tip against him — Ka Ying Rising could lead them from barrier to box.

BRIASA (10) might be drawn wide, but he’s massive value and a genuine each-way danger in The Everest. Team Hawkes’ flashy grey is flying under the radar yet arrives third-up rock-hard fit with six wins from seven goes at 1200m and proven Randwick form. He’s already knocked off Jimmysstar in the Premiere Stakes and was only a length off Joliestar fresh in The Shorts, so the local form lines stack up. Tyler Schiller sticks, the stable’s confident, and while he hasn’t faced Ka Ying Rising yet, if Briasa lands in the right spot from gate 10, he’s more than capable of shaking things up at a juicy price.

TEMPTED (1) looks a cracking value place chance in The Everest, with just 51kg on her back and a dream draw in barrier one. Maher’s classy filly has been ultra-consistent, and while no filly’s ever won the race, she’s got the form to give it a shake. A dual Group 2 winner as a juvenile with a Golden Slipper third to Marhoona, she’s picked up right where she left off this prep — winning the Run To The Rose and placing in the Golden Rose behind Beiwacht. The 1400m stretched her last time, but back to 1200m she’s right in the mix, and with Craig Williams aboard, she’ll get every chance to run into the money.