On five occasions, Ka Ying Rising has broken 68 seconds for 1200m. Yes Yes Yes holds the Randwick 1200m record with a time of 67.32 seconds, which he clocked in the 2019 Everest.
Jockey Zac Purton is yet to hit top gear on the gelding, which has won 14 of his 16 career starts, including his past 13 races.
“Zac thinks the horse is capable of breaking his own record any time he wants,” Hayes said. “Normally you don’t go for records because you don’t get paid anything extra for it, but I’d say if the conditions are right on the weekend, he’ll give the record a shake.”
When pressed on those comments afterwards, Hayes said: “When he’s on song, his last 13 runs he’s either broken the record in Hong Kong, or he’s nearly broken it easing down, not trying.
“He runs near track-record times every time he runs.
“Zac says he’s got a lot of improvement, and he still makes mistakes. He always talks about him being on the wrong leg.
“When he changes legs, that’s when he comes on – and Zac thinks when he changes legs, that’s when he breaks track records.”
Ka Ying Rising works at Canterbury on Monday.Credit: Steven Siewert
Australian Hayes, who returned to Hong Kong for a second stint as a trainer in 2020, would love to win The Everest with Ka Ying Rising, the best horse he has trained, even better than champion Better Loosen Up, he said.
Last year’s Everest winner, Bella Nipotina, started her career with Hayes before the trainer left Australia.
A healthy crowd turned up at Randwick last Monday to watch Ka Ying Rising finish third in a trial, which left punters divided about the star import, and wondering if bookies had shown the horse too much respect.
“The idea of that trial was to bring him on, and I think he has,” Hayes said.
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“He ran home in 38 [seconds] under a nice hold, his recovery was excellent, and he’s really improved from his trial.
“If we trialled him today, he would be a nine out of 10, or a 10 out of 10.
“He’s made the progression we thought he would. We’re expecting a bold showing. A nice firm track will only help.”
