Kiwi-bred sprinting phenomenon Ka Ying Rising is the talk of the town in Sydney ahead of his tilt at the A$20 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday week, with onlookers flocking to the track on Tuesday morning as he stepped out in a star-studded trial.

It was Ka Ying Rising’s first public appearance in Australia since trialling at Moe in June 2023, before joining David Hayes’ stable in Hong Kong and shooting to stardom with 13 straight victories, four of those at Group One level.

Now the world’s highest-rated sprinter, the son of Shamexpress stepped out against three of his Everest rivals (Overpass, Cambridge Stud’s Joliestar and Angel Capital), fellow Kiwi-breds Linebacker and Mr Brightside, and glamour mare Fangirl for the 1000m heat.

Jumping swiftly from the outside barrier (7), Ka Ying Rising settled into his work for regular rider Zac Purton, who had the gelding under a firm hold as he levelled up to Overpass and Linebacker in the straight. He cruised through the line finishing a neck behind that pair in third, with Mr Brightside a further five lengths from the winner.

Seven-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey Purton holds the gelding in high regard and expects improvement out of the trial run on a soft track.

“Pass mark, needs to improve,” he said. “He hasn’t had a run for about a month and he hasn’t done too much serious work in that amount of time, so it was the first time he’s done anything competitive in a while.

“The track was a little bit soft for him. He’s not totally at home on that ground, but I thought he trialled well enough.

“Obviously, it’s going to be a competitive race, the horses in Australia are peaking at the right time so hopefully we can draw a good gate, get a dry track and I’m sure he’ll improve a bit off that.

“He had a big blow after the trial and he’ll have another 200m to run in The Everest, he’s got 10 days to do a bit more work and improve – hopefully he can.”

Hayes was of a similar opinion to Purton but was satisfied with what he saw.

“It was a good, solid trial but he did need it,” Hayes said. “He blew a few cobwebs out and he’ll really come on a lot for that, he’ll have a nice gallop on Monday (13 October) and he’ll be right for the big one.

“He’s about 20 pounds above his racing weight (about 521kg) and I’ll expect it to come down a bit in the next week.”

Prior to the trial, Hayes arranged a ‘dress rehearsal’ for his star, spending time in the raceday tie-up stalls and Randwick’s Theatre of the Horse.

He was slightly agitated walking around the parade ring, but understandably so having raced solely at Sha Tin over the past couple of seasons.

“Hopefully he’ll improve from the experience,” Hayes said.

“He’s had a look at Randwick now. He hasn’t been away Sha Tin for a long time – that’s his only track – so to have a look around here was very, very good for him.”

Hayes will compete against his son’s Ben, Will and JD in the Everest after their sprinter War Machine, yet another Kiwi-bred, gained a slot on Sunday.