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Hong Kong flyer conquers The Everest!
It was incredible scenes at Royal Randwick as Hong Kong sensation and the world’s highest rated sprinter, Ka Ying Rising, showed exactly what he was made of when storming home to bring the ninth edition of the $20 million The Everest to the global stage with a powerhouse performance against the local brigade.
Ka Ying Rising confirmed his status as the best speed horse on the planet with a dominant win in the 2025 The Everest results delivering Hong Kong its biggest international racing triumph.
Having faced criticism in the lead-up, with some punters questioning his trial form and drifting odds, the gun gelding silenced all doubters with a performance that matched the hype.
David Hayes heroic Shamexpress gelding took his career record to 15 wins from 17 starts and added a fifth Group 1 to his glittering CV when flying home to deny the Ciaron Maher trained filly Tempted victory with her stablemate Jimmysstar finishing off The Everest trifecta in third.
“It’s certainly the biggest thrill in my life,” Hayes told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the win.
“It’s been the longest ten days in my life, I think.
“He (Better Loosen Up) was the last world champion rated horse I’ve trained, and this is the next one.
“A lot of good horses in between but these are the two stars.”
Ka Ying Rising had climbed the Hong Kong sprinting ranks and showed he really is the fastest horse in the world with a top-shelf performance in Sydney thanks to a gun ride by Zac Purton.
“It was a long way down that straight but when he got over the rise and he hadn’t used him I thought they were going to have to be pretty good to beat him,” Hayes added.
“I can’t wait to really watch the replay and enjoy it. It’s a long straight (at) Randwick isn’t it when you hit the front with 300m to go but I think he held on pretty well.
“Great ride by Zac (Purton) and I actually would’ve been shattered if he lost today.
“I think there’s more to come with this horse.”
Purton allowed the heavily backed $2 favourite to settle third in running with expected leaders Mazu and Overpass setting a hot pace.
Overpass was in the lead on the home straight, but not for long, with Ka Ying Rising quickly moving up when asked to charge clear and further cement his champion status with a win in the world’s richest turf race.
“He had a beautiful run in the race,” Purton said.
“Ethan (Brown on Jimmysstar) was trying to sneak up on my outside, but we just had to make sure we had the room which was pretty easy because we had the room which was pretty easy because of the pace of the race.
“Overpass skipped for him early and I had to chase him. To my horse’s credit, he wasn’t letting him go. He got the better of me in the trial, and we said that he’s not going to get the better of me in the race.
“We chased him down and coasted to the line.”
Maher’s lightly weighted Street Boss filly, Tempted ($16), was airborne with just 48kg on her back to finish best of the local hopes just 1.15 lengths beaten on the back of her third in the Group 1 Golden Rose.
“The winner is a superstar,” Tempted’s jockey Craig Williams said post-race.
“My horse is a future mega-superstar. She was great.
“Credit to Ciaron Maher, the ownership group to come to a race like this.
“Definitely didn’t disappoint and will benefit from this run again.”
Jimmysstar ($13) meanwhile was ridden in a more forward position sitting just off the speed alongside the eventual The Everest winner and held strong to finish in the money making his hoop very proud.
“Unreal,” Brown said.
“He ran out of his skin. A kinder gate would have done us a lot of favours.
“Good to see him closer. He gave his all. So proud of him.”
The Everest win reinforces Hong Kong’s emergence as a sprinting powerhouse, and Winfried Englebrecht-Bresges from slot holders the Hong Kong Jockey Club said Ka Ying Rising would be welcomed home with great fanfare after his performance.
“He will get a sensational reception. He’s a real champion – a global champion,” he said.
The Everest 2025 Results
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1st
1. Ka Ying Rising (7)
J: Zac Purton 58.5kg
T: David A Hayes |
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2nd
12. Tempted (1)
J: Craig Williams 51kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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3rd
4. Jimmysstar (11)
J: Ethan Brown 58.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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4th
3. Overpass (9)
J: Josh Parr 58.5kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
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5th
9. Joliestar (5)
J: James McDonald 56.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
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6th
8. Angel Capital (3)
J: Ben Melham 58.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
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7th
10. Lady Shenandoah (6)
J: Damian Lane 56.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
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8th
2. Briasa (10)
J: Tyler Schiller 58.5kg
T: M, W & J Hawkes |
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9th
6. Mazu (2)
J: Jason Collett 58.5kg
T: Joseph Pride |
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10th
5. War Machine (4)
J: Tim Clark 58.5kg
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
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11th
7. Jedibeel (8)
J: Kerrin McEvoy 58.5kg
T: Brad Widdup |
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12th
11. Magic Time (12)
J: Michael Dee 56.5kg
T: Grahame Begg |
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