It is full steam ahead to the Group One The Everest (1,200m) for a “thrilled” David Hayes and Ka Ying Rising after the Hong Kong Jockey Club confirmed on Thursday it has acquired a slot for the A$20 million (HK$102 million) sprint on October 18.
Talk of Ka Ying Rising heading to The Everest in Australia has been bubbling away for most of the Hong Kong season and slot negotiations got under way months ago, with Hayes pleased the deal has been locked away.
“I’m absolutely thrilled it’s been finalised and I’m thrilled the club has organised the best deal possible for the owner, which is the most important thing for me,” he said.
Jockey Club executive director of racing, Andrew Harding, confirmed the club has secured the Australian Turf Club’s (ATC) The Everest slot for two years, with the potential to extend.
“The club has entered into an agreement with the ATC for rights to use its The Everest slot,” he said.
Trainer David Hayes.
“For this year, the club will use the slot to enable Ka Ying Rising to take part in The Everest.
“In future years, we will use the slot to either facilitate a Hong Kong horse running or to target Australian or New Zealand sprinters to come onto the Hong Kong International Races after The Everest.”
The 12 slots have traditionally been valued at a minimum of A$700,000 each – the prize money for finishing from seventh to 12th – with varying deals struck between slot holders and horse owners.
While it’s unknown what percentage of winnings will go to Ka Ying Rising’s owners, the Ka Ying Syndicate, there seems little doubt they will be on the right end of one of the better deals in The Everest’s eight-year existence.
“Unsurprisingly, the opportunity to share in the prize money is not the club’s focus. What we want is to create an opportunity for a suitable Hong Kong horse to compete in the race on terms that are favourable to the Hong Kong owner,” Harding said.
“Likewise, if at some point we make the slot available to a runner from Australia or New Zealand, the focus would be on attracting top-quality runners from there to campaign here in December.”
HE DOES IT AGAIN! 🚀
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 27, 2025
Ka Ying Rising makes it 12 straight wins, four Group 1s and a HK$5 million Speed Series bonus with victory in the 2025 Chairman's Sprint Prize... @zpurton #FWDChampionsDay | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/IvPSPH9pcn
Hayes confirmed he is still tossing up whether to give four-time Group One winner Ka Ying Rising a run in Hong Kong before he flies to Sydney for The Everest.
The opening-day Class One his superstar snared last year, the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (1,200m), is Hayes’ only option, however he remains unsure whether he wants to run the world’s best sprinter under top weight on September 7.
“I’m going to work him as if he’s heading towards [the Chief Executive’s Cup]. Last year I went into it with one trial, but this year if he runs he’ll probably go into with two trials,” said Hayes.
“If he doesn’t run, he’ll have an exhibition gallop. But in the back of my mind I’m wary that when The Everest hits he’ll be six months without a run, which is a long time.”
After giving Ka Ying Rising a month off after he completed his perfect eight-win season in April’s Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m), Hayes is now beginning to up the speedster’s work.
The trainer is eyeing a two-race Australian expedition for his superstar, with the Russell Balding Stakes (1,300m) at Rosehill on November 1 also on the cards for the $2 The Everest favourite.
